Italian Citizenship for Argentine President Javier Milei Sparks Controversy

The Italian government has granted citizenship to Argentine President Javier Milei, recognizing his Italian heritage. This decision has caused a stir in Argentina, as reported by The New York Times. Milei's grandparents migrated from Italy to Argentina, and his citizenship was granted based on these ancestral ties, according to Italy's foreign ministry.

Critics, including Riccardo Magi, a liberal opposition lawmaker, have expressed disapproval, arguing that the law is unfair. They point out the inconsistency of granting citizenship to those with distant Italian ancestry while denying it to children of immigrants born in Italy. Magi described the decision as "another slap in the face" to those who have lived in Italy permanently and have been waiting for citizenship for years.

Unlike the United States, Italy does not automatically grant citizenship to children born within its borders. Liberal forces have proposed a referendum to change this law, but the government led by Giorgia Meloni has resisted such changes. Recently, Italy updated its interpretation of the citizenship law, making it harder to obtain citizenship through bloodlines.

On a related note, Meloni met with Milei to discuss advancing cooperation between Italy and Argentina. They expressed a shared commitment to finalizing a 2025-2030 Action Plan to deepen collaboration across various sectors, including judicial and security cooperation, and expanding Italy's economic presence in Argentina.