**Italy Tightens Citizenship Rules Amid Surge of Applications from Descendants**

In response to an overwhelming number of citizenship requests from individuals seeking an Italian passport, the Italian government has enacted a decree to tighten eligibility requirements. Previously, individuals with any Italian ancestor alive after the unification of Italy in 1861 were allowed to apply, but now only those with Italian parents or grandparents can seek citizenship.

The decision, announced by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is a response to a deluge of applications that flooded Italy’s bureaucratic systems, causing delays and bottlenecks. According to Tajani, many applicants were seeking Italian citizenship solely for its travel benefits, rather than genuine ties to the country. “We are looking to prevent abuses of the system,” he stated during a press conference, emphasizing that Italian citizenship should not merely be a means to facilitate shopping trips abroad.

This stricter approach particularly targets the significant influx of applicants from South America, where many individuals have sought citizenship to gain easier access to Europe and other regions. The government hopes that these new measures will restore order to the citizenship application process while ensuring that only those with genuine connections to Italy are granted citizenship.

The changes will take effect immediately, with officials anticipating a significant impact on application submissions in coming months.