Italians head to polls in referendum on citizenship and labor, but vote risks sinking on low turnout

ROME AP Italians headed to the polls Monday on the second and final day of referendums that would make it easier for children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship and on providing more job protections But partial input indicated a low turnout well below the required plus one threshold risking to invalidate the vote Campaigners for the change in the citizenship law say it will help second-generation Italians born in the country to non- European Union parents better integrate into a custom they already see as theirs Partial information from Italy s Interior Ministry published at GMT on Sunday exhibited that national turnout stood at just over half of the registered at the same time of the day in the latest comparable referendum held in The polling stations close later Monday at GMT The new rules if passed could affect about million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognized as citizens The measures were proposed by Italy s main union and left-wing opposition parties Premier Giorgia Meloni proved up at the polls on Sunday evening but didn t cast a ballot an action widely criticized by the left as antidemocratic since it won t contribute to reaching the necessary threshold to make the vote valid While specific members of her ruling coalition have openly called for abstention Meloni has opted for a more subtle approach commented analyst Wolfango Piccoli of the Teneo consultancy based in London It s yet another example of her trademark fence-sitting Rights at stake Supporters say this change would bring Italy s citizenship law in line with countless other European countries promoting greater social integration for long-term residents It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights such as the right to vote eligibility for community employment and freedom of movement within the EU The real drama is that neither people who will vote yes nor those who intend to vote no or abstain have an idea of what an ordeal children born from foreigners have to face in this country to obtain a residence permit noted Selam Tesfaye an activist and campaigner with the Milan-based human rights group Il Cantiere Activists and opposition parties also denounced the lack of citizens debate on the measures accusing the governing center-right coalition of trying to dampen interest in sensitive issues that directly impact immigrants and workers In May Italy s AGCOM communications authority lodged a complaint against RAI state television and other broadcasters over a lack of adequate and balanced coverage Opinion polls published in mid-May established that only of Italians were aware of the issues driving the referendums Turnout projections were even weaker for a vote scheduled for the first weekend of Italy s school holidays at around of around million electors well below the required quorum Several believe that the referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention that emerged in latest elections and the turnout threshold should be lowered noted Lorenzo Pregliasco political analyst and pollster at YouTrend A few analysts note however that the center-left opposition could claim a triumph even if the referendum fails on condition that the turnout surpasses the million voters who backed the winning center-right coalition in the general ballot Source