The Italian coalition government is showing signs of strain over the highly sensitive issue of the conditions for granting Italian citizenship. Meloni and Salvini’s parties oppose a proposal by the coalition’s third party, Forza Italia, to relax the conditions for granting Italian nationality to the children of immigrants.
The idea comes from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who represents Forza Italia, the centre-right party founded by Silvio Berlusconi, in Giorgia Meloni’s government.
Tajani proposes granting Italian citizenship to the children of immigrants, provided they have successfully completed at least ten years of education in Italy—a reform known in Italy as jus scholae (citizenship through education).
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not in favour of this and has made her disapproval clear, stating that it is not part of the government’s programme or priorities. She is opposed to granting Italian nationality to minors whose parents are still foreign nationals. Tajani was not deterred by her rebuke and responded firmly to Meloni, arguing that a measure such as this, designed to encourage the integration of foreigners, is in fact “fully in line” with the common programme and that Meloni’s party was in favour of this reform during the previous legislature.
The conditions for granting Italian nationality are a major political issue. Meloni has achieved substantial results in controlling illegal immigration since coming to power. However, legal immigration remains high to make up for a significant birth rate deficit on the peninsula, raising the question of how to integrate newcomers.
Unlike France, Italy grants nationality based on jus sanguinis (descent from Italian parents) rather than jus soli (birth on Italian soil). Tajani’s proposal would change the current framework, while introducing some safeguards through the requirement of education. However, the message sent by this reform, supported by Forza Italia, remains very negative, according to Matteo Salvini, president of the Lega—an ally of Meloni and aligned with the prime minister’s party on this issue—who insists that“making citizenship more accessible to foreigners” is out of the question.
Tajani intends to press ahead regardless and submit a bill to parliament. He expressed his irritation at Lega’s statements, saying: “We don’t have to ask anyone’s permission for this.” The leader of the Movimento Cinque Stelle (M5S, or Five Star Movement) welcomed what he sees as potential progress. “Jus scholae is a proposal we have been defending for years,” said Giuseppe Conte, its president, proving it does not align exclusively with a right-wing vision.
