Salvini Rejoices as Italian Citizenship Referendum Fails to Reach Quorum
Rome, June 9, 2025 – Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, celebrated the failure of a citizenship reform referendum to reach the required 50% voter turnout, declaring, “Citizenship is not a gift.” The referendum, held on June 8-9, 2025, aimed to ease Italy’s stringent citizenship laws, which restrict eligibility for children of immigrants born or raised in Italy. Low voter turnout, reported at under 30%, invalidated the results, a outcome Salvini and other government figures, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, actively encouraged by urging Italians to “head to the beach” instead of voting (The Guardian, June 5, 2025).
Salvini’s stance reflects his long-standing anti-immigration platform, emphasizing stricter rules for citizenship, such as proficiency in Italian and long-term residency. Posts on X, like @Lettera43, captured his jubilation: “Salvini festeggia per il quorum mancato: ‘La cittadinanza non è un regalo.’” Critics, including @AndreaLompio53, slammed Salvini, arguing his own conduct—citing past controversies like his 2019 migrant boat blockade—undermines his moral authority on citizenship standards.
The referendum’s failure is a setback for reform advocates who sought to grant citizenship to those born in Italy or residing there for 10 years, addressing the exclusion of over 1 million immigrants. Meloni’s coalition, including Salvini’s League, opposed the measure, fearing it would dilute national identity. The result strengthens the government’s hardline stance, though it deepens divisions, with opposition parties like the Democratic Party (PD) vowing to continue the fight for reform.
