The Italian people will decide in a referendum next week what it means to be an Italian citizen.
The referendum, taking place on Sunday and Monday, was initiated by a grassroots petition.
It proposes reducing the residency requirement for non-EU migrants to apply for Italian citizenship from 10 years to five years.
If approved this change could potentially allow around 2.5 million people to apply for citizenship.
Right-wing opposition
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition opposes the proposed changes, emphasising traditional notions of Italian identity.
The government has encouraged voters to boycott the referendum to prevent reaching the 50% turnout threshold required for the result to be binding.
The referendum’s supporters are angered by what they see as the government’s refusal to meaningfully engage on a matter that not only affects the lives of millions of people, but which they also see as critical for Italy’s economic – and democratic – future.
Italy, like many countries in the West, faces a demographic time-bomb with an ageing population and insufficient babies being born to sustain them. Nearly a quarter of the population is over 65 and just 12 % below the age of 14.
Referendum in the UK?
The big question would be whether any UK government would hold a referendum on immigration?
In the same way the Italian government is refusing to engage with their referendum, successive UK governments would rather avoid the issue than be clear on the benefits and costs of immigration.
