Javier Milei's Italian citizenship sparks outrage among Italians

In recent weeks, the Italian government granted citizenship to Argentine President Javier Milei, citing his Italian roots as the basis for this expedited process. This decision, which also included the citizenship of Milei's sister, has led to outrage among some Italians who feel the process amplifies existing inequalities within the country's citizenship laws. Critics argue that while strategic ties are celebrated with this move, it highlights the difficulty faced by young Italians and foreign-born children of migrants who must navigate a lengthy and bureaucratic path to citizenship. Current Italian law stipulates that foreigners must reside in Italy for ten years before they can apply for citizenship, a situation that many find incredibly challenging. Even children born in Italy to non-Italian parents must wait until they are 18 before they can submit their citizenship applications. This rigorous process stands in stark contrast to the quick citizenship granted to Milei, igniting a call for reform from both political opponents and pro-migrant groups. In response to these inequalities, there have been proposals to ease the waiting period for citizenship. Meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome for the Brothers of Italy party's festival, Milei has forged a strong alliance with her government, attracting attention for their shared political ideologies. This friendship between Milei and Meloni has raised eyebrows given the timing of the citizenship grants and the hardline stance on immigration and citizenship issues held by Meloni's right-wing coalition. Prominent figures like Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker from the opposition party +Europa, condemned the decision, labeling it as