Locals hold vote on citizenship

Italians began two days of voting on Sunday in a referendum on easing citizenship rules and strengthening labour laws, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government opposed to both and urging people to abstain.

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The five proposals on the ballot were not expected to pass, in light of low turnout and the requirement that over 50% of voters participate to validate the referendum.

Currently, a non-EU adult resident without marriage or blood ties to Italy must live in the country for 10 years before they can apply for citizenship — a process which can then take years more.

The referendum proposal, triggered by a grassroots campaign led by NGOs, would cut this to five years, putting Italy in line with Germany and France.

Campaigners say about 2.5 million people could benefit from the reform, which is being backed by the centre-left Democratic Party.

Ms Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party has prioritised cutting irregular immigration even as her government has increased the number of migrant work visas, is strongly against it.