Italy opens way for referendum on easing citizenship rules

Pro-migrant groups and parties have collected enough signatures to trigger a referendum on easing Italy's stringent citizenship laws for foreigners, government data showed on Tuesday. The promoters want to reduce to five years from 10 the period of residence required to apply for citizenship by naturalisation, and to allow beneficiaries to pass on their new nationality immediately to their children.
 
An online register curated by the Justice Ministry said the organisers had gathered the 500,000 signatures needed to instigate a popular vote and bypass parliament, where political gridlock has stymied efforts to revise the 1992 citizenship law.