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India Today
28 minutes ago
- India Today
Italians head to polls as citizenship, labour referendums face low turnout
Italians vote over two days starting Sunday on referendums that would make it easier for children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship, and on providing more job protection. But apparently low public awareness risks rendering the votes invalid if turnout is not high for the change in the citizenship law say it will help second-generation Italians born in the country to non- European Union parents better integrate into a culture they already see as singer Ghali, who was born in Milan to Tunisian parents, urged people to vote in an online post, noting that the referendum risks failure if at least 50% plus one of eligible voters don't turn out. Data from Italy's Interior Ministry published at 1700 GMT showed that national turnout stood at 15.9%, almost half of the 30.3 % registered at the same time of the day in the latest comparable referendum held in 2011. The polling stations close on Monday at 1300 GMT.'I was born here, I always lived here, but I only received citizenship at the age of 18,'' Ghali said, urging a yes vote to reduce the residency requirement from 10 to five new rules, if passed, could affect about 2.5 million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognised as measures were proposed by Italy's main union and left-wing opposition parties. Premier Giorgia Meloni has said she would show up at the polls but not cast a ballot — an action widely criticised by the left as antidemocratic, since it will not help reach the necessary threshold to make the vote valid.'While some members of her ruling coalition have openly called for abstention, Meloni has opted for a more subtle approach,' said analyst Wolfango Piccoli of the Teneo consultancy based in London. 'It's yet another example of her trademark fence-sitting.''RIGHTS AT STAKESupporters say this reform would bring Italy's citizenship law in line with many other European countries, promoting greater social integration for long-term residents. It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment and freedom of movement within the EU.'The real drama is that neither people who will vote 'yes' nor those who intend to vote 'no' or abstain have an idea of what (an) ordeal children born from foreigners have to face in this country to obtain a residence permit,' said Selam Tesfaye, an activist and campaigner with the Milan-based human rights group 'Il Cantiere.'advertisement'Foreigners are also victims of blackmail, as they can't speak up against poor working conditions, exploitation and discrimination, due to the precariousness of the permit of stay,' she and opposition parties also denounced the lack of public debate on the measures, accusing the governing center-right coalition of trying to dampen interest in sensitive issues that directly impact immigrants and May, Italy's AGCOM communications authority lodged a complaint against RAI state television and other broadcasters for a lack of adequate and balanced coverage.'This referendum is really about dignity and the right to belong, which is key for many people who were born here and spent most of their adult life contributing to Italian society. For them, a lack of citizenship is like an invisible wall,' said Michelle Ngonmo, a cultural entrepreneur and advocate for diversity in the fashion industry, who has lived most of her life in Italy after moving as a child from Cameroon.'You are good enough to work and pay taxes, but not to be fully recognised as Italian. This becomes a handicap for young generations, particularly in the creative field, creating frustration, exclusion and a big waste of potential,' she four other referendums aim to roll back labour reforms, making it harder to fire some workers and increase compensation for those laid off by small businesses, reversing a previous law passed by a centre-left government a decade ago. One of the questions on the ballot also addresses the urgent issue of security at work, restoring joint liability to both contractors and subcontractors for workplace EXPECTED TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTINGOpinion polls published in mid-May showed that only 46% of Italians were aware of the issues driving the referendums. Turnout projections were even weaker for a vote scheduled for the first weekend of Italy's school holidays, at around 35% of around 50 million electors, well below the required quorum.'Many believe that the referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention (that) emerged in recent elections and the turnout threshold should be lowered," said Lorenzo Pregliasco, political analyst and pollster at analysts note, however, that the centre-left opposition could claim a victory even if the referendum fails on condition that the turnout surpasses the 12.3 million voters who backed the winning centre-right coalition in the 2022 general election.
Observer
an hour ago
- Observer
Thai, Cambodian forces to resume previous positions on border
BANGKOK: Thailand and Cambodian forces will return to their previously agreed positions, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said, following talks on Sunday, after both reinforced their military presence in response to a deadly clash last month. For days, the two governments have exchanged statements, saying they were committed to finding a peaceful resolution after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a clash on May 28 in an undemarcated border area. On Saturday, the two countries had both reinforced their military presence, but Phumtham said in a statement on Sunday both sides would revert to positions agreed in 2024. He also said both sides hoped the border issue could be fully resolved through a meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee, set up to allow bilateral negotiations, on June 14. Cambodia did not immediately comment following the statement from Phumtham. Earlier on Sunday, Thailand shortened operating hours at 10 border crossings with Cambodia, citing security concerns. Checkpoints, including the busiest in Thailand's eastern province of Sa Kaeo, halved operating hours to 8 am (0100 GMT) to 4 pm local time, from 6 am to 10 pm, previously, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters. Thailand operates 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, spanning seven provinces along their shared 817-km (508 miles) frontier, government data shows. Cambodia's Foreign Ministry reiterated a request to bring the border disputes to the International Court of Justice in a letter to Thai officials on June 6. "Given the complexity, historical nature and sensitivity of these disputes, it is increasingly evident that bilateral dialogue alone may no longer suffice to bring about a comprehensive and lasting solution," Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said in the note shared with reporters on Sunday. "A decision rendered by the ICJ, grounded in international law, would offer a fair, impartial, and durable resolution," he said. The Thai government has said it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at undemarcated points along their shared border. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Both governments have enjoyed warm ties, from a close friendship between former leaders, Thaksin Shinawatra from Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen. Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. — Reuters
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Serbia's Kosjeric votes amid high turnout, seen as test for Vucic government
The vote is the first since protests against the ruling nationalist party erupted in November, when the roof of a newly refurbished train station collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 read more A man casts his ballot at a polling station during the local elections in Kosjeric town, Serbia. AFP Residents of the Serbian town of Kosjeric turned out in droves on Sunday for a municipal election viewed as a high-stakes test for the national government following months of student-led protests. The vote is the first since protests against the ruling nationalist party erupted in November, when the roof of a newly refurbished train station collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16. The catastrophe, largely blamed on deep-seated corruption, spurred protests, putting pressure on populist President Aleksandar Vucic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vucic claims the protests are orchestrated by foreign forces and calls it a 'attempted coup,' implying that national elections 'might be held soon.' As of 6:00 pm (1600 GMT), 'more than 76 percent of those registered have voted', the local elections chief Sandra Filipovic told journalists. 'There are still two hours left for voting and I suppose the turnout will be even more significant,' she said, noting that it reached 73 percent in the previous local elections in 2021. The governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is being challenged by the united independent candidates' list. The independent slate features new faces to politics as well as opposition members who have dropped party labels, a model planned for eventual national elections. The student-led protests have already forced a prime minister to resign, leading to the collapse of the previous government. In April, parliament elected a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Djuro Macut, a doctor and political newcomer.
