(ANSAmed) - Crotone, November 12 - The southern Italian city
of Crotone will grant symbolic citizenship to children born to
immigrant parents next week, the mayor announced Monday.
"We're bringing down a cultural barrier," said Peppino
Vallone.
Current law dictates that only the children of Italian
citizens can automatically become citizens themselves, while
those born on Italian soil to non-Italian parents become
eligible on their 18th birthday.
A famous example is Mario Balotelli, one of Italy's biggest
soccer stars and a forward on the national team, who was born in
Italy to parents from Ghana.
The president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, has called the current system "pure folly" and a bill to change the law was submitted to the House this summer. Granting local citizenship in Crotone is scheduled for November 20. "Children born in Crotone, even if their parents are foreign, are children of this city," said the mayor. (ANSAmed).
The president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, has called the current system "pure folly" and a bill to change the law was submitted to the House this summer. Granting local citizenship in Crotone is scheduled for November 20. "Children born in Crotone, even if their parents are foreign, are children of this city," said the mayor. (ANSAmed).
