Right to vote

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Rating: 4.3/5 with 4 votes

Published Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 16:45
by Editor (583 views and 3 comments)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi talks about collecting and storing children’s fingerprints and making ‘illegal immigration’ a crime, but the Italian Partito Democratico has come up with a radically different proposal for tackling this controversial issue.

 

Yesterday, PD Leader Walter Veltroni wrote to the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies proposing to extend the right to vote in administrative and local elections to all those who have been legally residents in Italy for some time, whether or not they are Italian or EU citizens.


And the PD has gone further. Two million Italians have already signed an initiative “Salva l’Italia” – ‘Save Italy’ : calling for action to tackle the economic crisis including protecting salaries and pensions, and the defence of democratic rules against misguided laws passed by Berlusconi (such as one third stronger punishments for crimes committed by illegal immigrates). The PD hopes to get 5 million signatures by October 25.


The PD is clearly rejecting the Right’s attempt to scapegoat migrants – and particularly illegal immigrants – for the problems facing Italy. The local public opinion is very sensitive to this issue and such a proposal is to be considered one of the most innovative concerning debate on the integration of immigrants into Italian society.

Tags: citizens, migration, voting

Comments

1. About this initiative by avalon on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 18:02

It is really important for Italians but also for Europeans to stand up agains what is happening in Italy under Berlusconi's leadership (or lack of it).
Is it possible for non-Italians to sign up this petition initiated by the PD?

Is there an online address where we can sign it?

Thanks! 

2. Re: About this initiative by editor on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 10:27

Hi avalon.

I do agree, it is very important for all European citizens to be aware of Berlusconi's initiatives and to act for facing them.

It is possible for anyone to sign up the petition, you just have to go on the PD's website and select the country you come from.

Here it is the link to the page where you can get more information and sign the petition.

3. Thanks! by avalon on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 12:38

Thank you for the link!
I have now signed this initiative and invite everyone to do so

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