Some angry that politician with Italian roots easily obtained citizenship while on trip to meet PM Giorgia Meloni

Summary

Italy granted citizenship to Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, due to his Italian ancestry, sparking outrage over the contrast with strict citizenship rules for children of migrants born in Italy.

Critics, including opposition lawmaker Riccardo Magi, called the decision discriminatory, highlighting Italy’s restrictive laws for migrants despite allowing distant descendants of Italians to claim citizenship.

Milei, who has close ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is in Rome for political events.

Pro-migrant groups have pushed for reforms, but Meloni’s right-wing government opposes easing citizenship laws.

  • rhythmisaprancer
    41•6 days ago

    Wouldn’t most countries discourage top leaders from having things like dual citizenship?

    • JustinEnglish
      11•6 days ago

      In Sweden the far right Sweden Democrats have proposed forbidding anyone with dual citizenship from representing in parliament. Pretty rough considering Swedes often have backgrounds from all over the EU.

      • @[email protected]English
        1•5 days ago

        The people that voted for milei definitely doesn’t care about that, it’s a minuscule issue compared to the rest

    • @stolyEnglish
      1•6 days ago

      The basic requirement in Argentina is that you’re Roman Catholic and a citizen. That’s in the constitution.

      • @[email protected]English
        7•5 days ago

        I think you’re working on old data. According to Wikipedia:

        Prior to the 1994 constitutional reform, the president and vice president were required to be Roman Catholics. This stipulation was abolished in 1994.

        and

        Article 89 of the Constitution detail the requirements:

        Article 89. To be elected president or vice president of the Nation, it is necessary to have born in Argentine territory, or be the son of a native citizen, having been born in a country foreign; and the other qualities required to be elected senator

        Article 55. The requirements to be elected senator are: to be thirty years old, to have been a citizen of the Nation for six years, enjoy an annual income of two thousand pesos or an equivalent income, and be a native of the province that chooses it, or with two years of residence immediate in it.

      • @SiegfriedEnglish
        3•6 days ago

        Being catholic is not a requirement

      • qyronEnglish
        1•6 days ago

        Atheists and induviduals from other creeds are off the table, then.