Francesco Giacobbe: “The battle does not end here”

ROMA - The Senate’s approval of the Citizenship Decree was one of the most challenging battles in all of my parliamentary experience.

To be frank, the majority arrogantly wielded the power of numbers over the logic of rights, passing a disgraceful law that undermines our communities around the world.

But, and with deep pride, we at least managed to secure the approval of the provision that creates the possibility for those who lost their Italian citizenship before 1992 due to becoming citizens elsewhere to reclaim it.

Let me be clear from the outset; the battle does not end here. We will not be settling. Personally, I’ll continue to fight so that Italian emigrants can reclaim their rights.

But today, for many of our compatriots, especially those who chose to become Australian citizens in order to build a stable future for their families, this is a moment to celebrate a long-awaited turning point. They now have the real possibility of regaining Italian citizenship - a profound symbol of identity and belonging.

The result is a source of satisfaction for those like me who have made this battle one of the foundations of their politics. Since my first Senate term in 2013, I’ve submitted bills to reopen the possibility of reclaiming citizenship and always faced great opposition.

Even during my second term, profoundly impacted by the pandemic, I never stopped working to have this request heard. As soon as an opportunity opened during discussions on the current citizenship decree, my colleagues in the Democratic Party and I immediately acted to include this just provision among the amendments.

It’s no coincidence that even colleagues from Fratelli d’Italia and the League (who despite being part of the ruling coalition criticised many aspects of the decree) publicly acknowledged in the Chamber that this was a proposal strongly advocated for and promoted by the PD. They deserve recognition for their institutional honesty, and I thank them for it.

However, it’s true that this is only a partial victory. The government and its majority have chosen, much to my regret, not to extend this opportunity to everyone who was forced to give up their Italian citizenship due to archaic and deeply unjust laws, limiting it instead only to those born in Italy. This is a gravely discriminatory act.

Before the 1992 reform, anyone wishing to acquire foreign citizenship was required to renounce their Italian citizenship. And before that, there were laws from the 19th century where decisions made by the head of the family (almost always the man) automatically affected the wife and children.

In practice, entire families lost their Italian citizenship without each individual having the chance to make their own choice. Many of these families were born in Australia. Denying them the opportunity to reclaim what was taken from them due to historical and legislative reasons beyond their control is a serious failure. It’s a wound that remains open. It would have taken very little, a mere gesture of fairness and recognition, to finally resolve this long-standing issue.

Adding to the bitterness is the introduction of a €250 fee to reclaim citizenship. This fee suggests the government is trying to profit from a right that was denied due to flaws in the law, through no fault of those who, out of necessity, had to become citizens of another country. It’s an inappropriate imposition that risks deterring some applicants from an opportunity that should be free and guaranteed by the State in the name of justice and memory.

Nevertheless, despite the shortcomings, this achievement remains fundamental. It’s a step forward that brings thousands of Italians abroad closer to their roots. It’s a belated but important recognition that restores dignity and a sense of belonging to those who have always loved Italy from afar.

Finally, it’s a victory for historical justice and moral consistency; no country can afford to forget its children or close the doors to those who, out of necessity, had to relinquish their citizenship - but never their identity.

I will continue to fight to extend this right to those who have been excluded, because the duty of politics is to acknowledge past mistakes and act courageously to correct them. But today, we can say that a first step has been taken, and it’s a step that makes us all a little more Italian.