Argentina's Milei given Italian citizenship during Rome visit

14/12/2024 7:22

Italy's government has granted citizenship to Argentina's President Javier Milei on account of his Italian family roots, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Friday, confirming earlier media reports.



Milei is in Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and to take part in her Brothers of Italy party's annual festival on Saturday.



The source said the government had given Italian citizenship to the Argentine leader, declining to provide further details.



The news on Italian media triggered an angry reaction from some politicians and on social media from people protesting at citizenship being given to Milei when it is hard to obtain for the children of migrants born in Italy.



Italy's citizenship laws are based on blood ties, meaning that even distant descendants of an Italian national can obtain an Italian passport.