Cantonéghe Mayor suspends citizenship for Moroccan woman over language skills

The Mayor of Cantonéghe, Marco Schesaro, has suspended the citizenship process for a Moroccan woman married to an Italian citizen for 15 years due to her inability to communicate in Italian.

During the official swearing-in ceremony, the Mayor reported that the woman could not understand basic questions or read the required oath. A subsequent visit to the municipal offices with a relative also failed to demonstrate sufficient Italian language skills.

The Italian Ministry of the Interior has supported the decision, stating that applicants must possess satisfactory knowledge of the language. Local authorities have specified that a B1 level language proficiency certificate is required to proceed with the citizenship application. The incident has sparked political debate and legal discussions regarding the scope of mayoral authority and the necessity of language testing for residents with permanent permits.