Italian Rapper: Ghali
Recently, an Italian rapper named Ghali called out the issue of the so-called “New Italians” during the Sanremo music festival, one of the biggest cultural events in Italy. The 30-year-old musician, born in Milan to Tunisian parents, sang a version of Toto Cutugno’s global hit “L’Italiano” (The Italian). Ghali was naturalized only at 18, which brings us to the question of what is the problem with Italy’s citizenship process? There’s numerous factors that go into this topic, let’s take a look.
A Complex Application Process
Applicants often face a bureaucratic and complex process that requires extensive documentation, including proof of Italian ancestry, residency, or marriage to an Italian citizen. Gathering and verifying these documents can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for descendants of Italian emigrants seeking citizenship through ancestry.
Long Waiting Times
The process can be exceedingly slow, with applicants sometimes waiting years for their application to be processed. This delay is often attributed to the backlog of applications in Italian consulates and the limited resources allocated to the process them.
Legal Framework and Requirements
The Italian citizenship law includes requirements that some applicants find difficult to meet. For instance, there are specific residency requirements for this applying through marriage or residency, and the law in citizenship through descent is limited to a certain number of generations, which can excludes some descendants of Italian emigrants.
Changes in Legislations
The Italian government has made several changes to the citizenship laws over the years, which can affect application differently, For example, security decrees have introduced stricter requirements and extended processing times for citizenship by residency and naturalization.
Disparities in Access
There is also a perceived inconsistency in how applications are processed across different Italian consulates and municipalities, leading to disparities in access to citizenship. Some applicants may experience relatively quicker processing times and less stringent documentation requirements than others.
Dual Citizenship Controversies
Italy allows duel citizenship, but the process and implications can be complex, especially for those residing outside of Italy. Navigating the legalities of maintaining citizenship in two countries can be challenging for some applicants.
These issues collectively contribute to a situation where obtaining Italian citizenship can be prolonged an uncertain process. However, there are children in Italy, born and raised, who are left waiting for citizenship in their own home country. Italy has one of the toughest citizenship regimes in Europe, with children born in the country to foreign parents unable to apply for an Italian passport until they are 18-years-old. Spokeswoman for the campaign group called “Italians Without Citizenship,” stated that the failures to allow children to become citizens is “psychological violence.”
