The Italian government has granted Argentine President Javier Milei citizenship in recognition of his Italian heritage, sparking outrage across Argentina, according to a report by The New York Times.
Milei, whose grandparents emigrated from Italy to Argentina, was granted Italian citizenship based on his ancestral ties, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. The decision has faced significant criticism, particularly from opponents of Italy’s citizenship policies, who argue that the law favoring descendants of Italians is inequitable.
Critics have highlighted the inconsistency in granting citizenship to individuals with distant Italian ancestry while denying it to children of immigrants born in Italy. Riccardo Magi, a liberal opposition lawmaker, strongly condemned the move, calling it “another slap in the face” to children born in Italy or long-term residents who have waited years for citizenship without success.
In a post on X, Magi wrote: “Granting Italian citizenship to President Milei is yet another slap in the face to boys and girls born here or living here permanently, who have been waiting for citizenship for years, often without any result,” as reported by The New York Times.
Unlike the United States, Italy does not automatically grant citizenship to children born on its soil, regardless of their parents’ legal status. Liberal forces have proposed a referendum to reform the law, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has resisted such changes. Instead, recent updates to the interpretation of citizenship laws, based on rulings by Italy’s supreme court, have made obtaining citizenship through bloodlines more restrictive.
On Saturday, Meloni met Milei to discuss advancing bilateral cooperation. Both leaders expressed their commitment to finalizing a 2025-2030 Action Plan to deepen collaboration in various sectors. The discussions also emphasized judicial and security cooperation, particularly in combating transnational organized crime, and highlighted Italy’s interest in expanding its economic and commercial presence in Argentina, especially in energy and high-value sectors.
Meloni shared on X: “A few weeks after my visit to Argentina, I received the President of the Argentine Republic, @JMilei, today at Palazzo Chigi. The discussion was an opportunity to reiterate the common will to further strengthen the already solid bilateral partnership, aiming to conclude in the coming months a 2025-2030 Action Plan to deepen collaboration in various areas.”
“The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of judicial and security cooperation, particularly against transnational organized crime, and Italy’s desire to increase its economic and commercial presence in Argentina, starting with the energy and high-value-added sectors. We agreed to maintain close coordination on key international issues”, she added.