Under sunny skies, citizens across Italy flocked to polling stations on the 7th and 8th for a two-day referendum. Among the proposals being voted on, the most noteworthy is the reform of citizenship law, alongside four other legislative measures related to labor rights. Currently, adult residents from non-EU countries without Italian descent or marriage ties must reside in Italy for ten consecutive years before being eligible to apply for citizenship. Now, pushed by multiple NGOs, Italians face a critical decision via this referendum: whether to cut the residency requirement in half to five years, aligning more closely with the citizenship application processes of other EU countries like Germany and France.

Italian citizens expressed hope that many would participate in the vote, emphasizing that the main point is the exercise of their civic rights, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposal. If passed, the referendum would benefit approximately 2.5 million residents, particularly young individuals born in Italy to non-EU citizen parents, allowing them to obtain driver’s licenses, vote, hold public office, and move freely within EU countries.

However, some long-term residents of Italy have yet to secure citizenship. A 26-year-old Egyptian man shared, "I left my hometown at 14, leaving behind my family and all my loved ones. Without citizenship, I cannot safely return home, nor fulfill my dreams." If the voter turnout doesn’t exceed the required threshold, the referendum results will be deemed invalid. Consequently, anti-immigration Prime Minister Meloni and her party, Brothers of Italy, have been actively campaigning to urge citizens to resist voting.

An AP correspondent noted, "In fact, the Prime Minister stated she would go to the polling station on Sunday, but she would not collect the referendum ballot, indicating that she wouldn’t vote." Since the early 21st century, illegal immigration via North Africa has surged into Italy, particularly highlighted by the tragic shipwreck off Lampedusa Island in 2013, which claimed the lives of 300 immigrants, drawing international attention. With the rise of far-right parties, Italy has evidently prioritized national security over humanitarian aid.

Starting in 2024, Italy will begin sending deported immigrants to reception centers in Balkan countries and Albania, a policy that has sparked legal and human rights disputes, with Meloni seeking EU support.