Italians vote on migrant citizenship requirements, 4 other amendments

Italians vote on migrant citizenship requirements, 4 other amendments
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Italians began voting Sunday in a two-day abrogative referendum on reducing citizenship requirements and reversing labor market liberalization measures, Anadolu Agency reported. The referendum includes five questions, with the first requiring at least 50% public approval to pass.

One key proposal seeks to reduce the legal residence time for foreign non-EU adults applying for Italian citizenship from 10 to five years, potentially benefiting about 2.5 million non-EU residents. Other questions focus on employment contracts, aiming to increase protections against unlawful dismissal and reconsider rules on term limits and compensation related to layoffs, especially for small businesses.

The referendums were initiated by the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) and leftist parties, targeting parts of the Jobs Act to restore stronger job protections.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government opposes the changes and has urged voters to abstain, hoping to invalidate the referendum by keeping turnout below the 50% quorum.

Voting continues until Monday evening, with Italians abroad having already cast ballots by mail.