A decision by the Constitutional Court in Rome has sparked a real rush for Italian citizenship. More than 12,000 Brazilian, Argentinian and Venezuelan citizens have submitted citizenship applications, causing difficulties for authorities.
Two years ago, the Constitutional Court made it easier for foreigners with Italian roots to naturalize. The Veneto region in particular, from which a large number of people emigrated to South America in the 19th and 20th centuries, received a particularly large number of requests. Entire families of up to fifteen people would now apply for Italian citizenship. Granting citizenship comes with voting rights, and this could have consequences, warned Carlo Citterio, president of the Court of Appeal in Venice.
The applications now make up more than two-thirds of all cases. Citterio complained that this had a negative effect on the duration of all other procedures. But many small communities are also completely overwhelmed by the attack.
The ‘strong’ Italian passport
It is estimated that there are 60 to 80 million people of Italian descent worldwide. That is more than Italy’s 59 million inhabitants. The Italian passport is the strongest in the world – along with those of five other countries – and gives access to a record 194 of the 227 countries around the world. In fact, along with France, Germany, Spain, Singapore and Japan, the Italian passport ranks first in the latest “Henley Passport Index”, which ranks passports according to the number of countries to which their holders have visa-free access.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
