Italy is currently holding a crucial two-day referendum that could dramatically reshape its citizenship laws. The proposed reforms aim to significantly reduce the residency requirement for non-EU citizens seeking naturalization, dropping it from the current ten years to a mere five. This potentially landmark change has ignited passionate debate across the country.

However, the referendum’s success hangs precariously in the balance. A sufficient voter turnout is mandatory for the results to be legally binding. Failure to reach this threshold would render the entire process null and void, leaving the existing, stricter laws in place.

The push for these reforms comes from an unlikely coalition. Opposition parties, joined by the powerful CGIL labor union – a significant voice often at odds with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government – are championing the cause. After successfully collecting millions of signatures in March, the CGIL triggered the referendum, which commenced on Sunday.

The stakes are high. A successful referendum could have far-reaching implications for Italy’s immigration policies and its integration of non-EU residents. The coming days will reveal whether this significant effort to reform citizenship laws will ultimately succeed.