**Italian Citizenship Debate Heats Up Ahead of Referendum**

Sonny Olumati was born and raised in Rome, yet despite calling Italy home, the country does not officially recognize him as one of its own. Holding a Nigerian passport, the 39-year-old dancer and activist can only stay as long as his latest residence permit allows. “I’ve been born here. I will live here. I will die here,” Sonny says in a mix of Italian and English. "But not having citizenship is like... being rejected from your country. And I don't think this is a feeling we should have."

Sonny is among many who are advocating for a "Yes" vote in a crucial national referendum set for Sunday and Monday. The referendum seeks to reduce the required residency period for applying for Italian citizenship from 10 years to five, aligning Italy with most other European nations. Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s hard-right prime minister, however, has announced her intention to boycott the vote, suggesting the current citizenship laws are already "excellent" and "very open." Her allied parties have even encouraged Italians to spend their time at the beach instead of at the polls.

Regrettably, Sonny himself will not be participating in the vote since, without citizenship, he is not eligible. The contentious issue of who qualifies as Italian has long been a sensitive topic in the nation. Meloni's populist government has emphasized reducing the number of arrivals, but this particular referendum targets those who have legally come to Italy for work amid a shrinking, ageing population. The objective is limited to accelerating the process for obtaining citizenship while maintaining strict qualifying criteria.

Carla Taibi of the liberal party More Europe, a significant backer of the referendum, explains that the requirements will remain stringent. Applicants must have knowledge of the Italian language, no criminal record, and continuous residence, among other stipulations. The reform primarily focuses on long-term foreign residents who are already employed in Italy, from factory workers in the north to caregivers in Rome. If passed, the reform could see up to 1.4 million people, including minors under 18, qualify for citizenship almost immediately.

"This is about changing the perception of these people so they are not strangers anymore—but Italian," argues Taibi. For individuals like Sonny, the reform could have significant practical implications, such as eligibility for public sector jobs and ease in obtaining a driving license.

For a long time, Meloni largely ignored the referendum, with Italian state media, led by a close ally of Meloni, also giving it minimal attention. The lack of a substantial "No" campaign has made balanced debate difficult. Analysts suggest this strategy is to ensure that the required 50% voter turnout is not met, rendering the referendum invalid. Professor Roberto D'Alimonte from Luis University in Rome believes this is a deliberate tactic to avoid raising awareness about the significance of the vote.

Eventually, Meloni announced she would appear at a polling station "to show respect for the ballot box" but would abstain from voting. She defended her stance on a TV chat show, arguing that not participating is also a valid democratic option and reiterating that Italy’s current system already grants citizenship to more foreign nationals than most European countries, with 217,000 people obtaining Italian citizenship last year according to Istat, the national statistics agency.