Portrait of Giorgia Meloni
Politician · policy
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Giorgia Meloni on Citizenship/Nationality Laws

Opposed to birthright citizenship (strong)

Giorgia Meloni has publicly expressed opposition to birthright citizenship proposals, which would grant citizenship to foreigners born and residing in Italy, including rights to education.

This opposition aligns with her party's broader stance on immigration, favoring measures to halt illegal arrivals and boost the native Italian birth rate to reduce reliance on migrant labor.

Her general political philosophy, centered on 'God, fatherland, family' and national interests, suggests a preference for citizenship based on descent or assimilation rather than solely on place of birth.

Context

As Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni leads the government responsible for enacting and enforcing the nation's citizenship and nationality laws. This role gives her direct executive power to influence policy changes in this area.

Her conservative platform places significant emphasis on national identity, sovereignty, and managing migration flows, making citizenship laws a relevant policy area for her administration.

Actions Taken

  1. Immigration/Border Control Policy
    Meloni's government was noted as implementing stricter policies against illegal immigration shortly after taking office, a policy closely linked to citizenship discussions.
  2. Demographic Policy
    She advocated for boosting the birth rate of Italian nationals to ease the perceived need for migrant labor, positioning it as an alternative to birthright citizenship.

Related Positions

  • Illegal Immigration Her desire to blockade illegal immigrants and fight against 'mass migration' underpins her restrictive stance on who should become an Italian citizen.
  • National Identity Her emphasis on 'Italian identity' and Christian values informs her view that citizenship should be tied to cultural and national continuity rather than merely residence.

Criticism

Critics

Her stance on immigration and related nationality issues, including rhetoric on 'ethnic substitution,' has led to accusations of xenophobia and advocating for policies against multiculturalism.

Comparison

  • Opposing Birthright Citizenship: Meloni is explicitly against the principle that grants citizenship based on place of birth, contrasting with more permissive approaches seen in some other Western nations.
  • Prioritizing National Birth Rate: Her focus on increasing the birth rate among Italian nationals is a policy aimed at securing the future workforce and population through internal means, rather than relying on naturalization through birthright laws.
Sources3

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.