Italy Grants Citizenship to Argentina’s President

Italy has granted citizenship to Argentine President Javier Milei, according to a source on Saturday. 

Milei is eligible for Italian citizenship due to his Italian ancestry, but the decision has sparked criticism from political opponents in Italy.

These critics have long campaigned in vain for easier access to citizenship for children born in Italy to immigrant parents.

Milei arrived in Rome for a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and to participate in a festival organized by her party, "Brothers of Italy." 

Milei and Meloni share a close relationship, with Milei gifting her a small statue of himself holding a chainsaw, referencing a movement he became famous for during his presidential campaign.

Milei's sister, Karina, also received Italian citizenship, and reports suggest that both applications were fast-tracked by the Italian government.

Riccardo Magi, an Italian lawmaker from the opposition party "Europa," described the move as an "insult" and "unacceptable discrimination" against many young people in Italy who will have to wait years to gain citizenship.

He criticized the disparity, stating that for millions of Italians born and raised in Italy, who study, work, and pay taxes, obtaining citizenship remains a struggle.

Under current law, non-EU nationals must reside in Italy for 10 years before applying for citizenship, and children born in Italy to foreign parents cannot apply until they are 18.

Opposition parties and organizations advocating for immigrants, such as "Oxfam Italy," have pushed for reducing the waiting period to five years, similar to countries like the UK, France, and Germany. However, Meloni's ruling coalition opposes relaxing these rules.