Italy’s Constitutional Court has upheld a 2025 law restricting citizenship by descent, rejecting challenges and leaving the traditional jus sanguinis principle in place. The court ruled that the law does not apply retroactively to descendants of Italians born before the change, citing “partly unfounded and partly inadmissible” constitutional questions.
The ruling affects Brazil’s large community of Italian descendants, estimated at 30 million people, who have faced changes in citizenship recognition procedures. A lawyer said the court’s statement offers an indication on specific arguments that could influence lower courts handling similar cases.
However, some experts caution that this decision does not end the debate over constitutional limits and may eventually reach European courts. The issue largely falls within Italy’s national sovereignty, but challenges could reach human rights treaties if litigants argue the reform violates international laws.
Source: https://www.courthousenews.com