The law, passed in 2025 under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aims to clamp down on claims based on tenuous links to Italy and to clear a backlog in local councils and consulates, according to multiple reports. It appears to have stemmed from allegations in 2024 that the Italian consulate in Venezuela illegally granted citizenship to five members of Hezbollah. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani justified the law by claiming that Black Friday-style discount deals were being offered on Italian citizenship in Brazil.
In March 2025, Italy's constitutional court ruled that the law was valid. However, legal challenges continue. Lawyer Marco Mellone argues that the law should not apply retroactively and that his clients are invoking rights under ius sanguinis. According to Mellone, the supreme court has the power to clarify the scope of the law. A supreme court panel is expected to make its decision in the coming weeks.
Meloni stated, "We believe that granting citizenship is a serious matter and should be reserved for those with a genuine connection to our nation." The exact impact on legitimate applications and the backlog remains unclear.