Politics · Italy · 8 hrs ago
Lega struggles to define term used for its proposed citizenship law
Italy’s Lega party presented a proposal on granting and revoking citizenship at a press conference in Milan.
The party has nicknamed it the “anti-maranza” law, but its members struggled to explain what “maranza” means in legal terms.
Deputy Matteo Salvini said he had no idea, while lawmaker Igor Iezzi first suggested a cultural meaning for the word.
Iezzi then described second-generation Italians who commit crimes as maranza.
He listed offences ranging from insulting a public official to mafia association, forced abortion, labour exploitation and mass killing.
The Lega says some listed crimes should prevent citizenship, making the proposal’s scope depend on its approach to those offences.
The sources do not say what happens next with the proposal.
The League struggled to define “maranza” while presenting its proposed law on granting and revoking citizenship.
The party had nicknamed the proposal the “anti-maranza” law.
Deputy Igor Iezzi said the term referred to people who commit crimes, including some second-generation Italians.
League leader Matteo Salvini said he had no idea what the term meant.
The proposal would make certain convictions grounds for barring people from citizenship.
- Who
- The League presented the proposal. Deputy Igor Iezzi drafted it, and Matteo Salvini attended the press conference.
- What
- The party presented a proposal on granting and revoking citizenship, nicknamed the “anti-maranza” law.
- When
- Not stated. The article was published on 19 October 2026.
- Where
- Via Bellerio in Milan.
- Why
- The League said certain crimes should lead to exclusion from citizenship and form the basis for its use of the term “maranza.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The League presented its proposal on granting and revoking citizenship, which it had nicknamed the “anti-maranza” law.
Asked to define “maranza,” Salvini passed the question to Iezzi and said he had no idea.
Iezzi described the term as referring to people who commit crimes and listed offences that he said could bar people from citizenship.
- Proposal
- Law on granting and revoking citizenship
- Nickname
- Anti-maranza” law
- Venue
- Via Bellerio, Milan
- Bill drafter
- Igor Iezzi
- Listed offences
- Included insulting a public official, mafia-type association, non-consensual abortion, labour exploitation and massacre
What people are saying
I have no idea
Among second-generation Italians, many are maranza, that is, those who commit crimes