Italian Bill Proposes Mother's Surname for Newborns

Dario Franceschini, a politician from Italy's centre-left Democratic Party, has proposed legislation for babies to automatically take their mother's surname at birth, challenging a long-standing tradition of using the father's surname. This follows a 2022 ruling by Italy's Constitutional Court, which declared the automatic use of the father's surname discriminatory and suggested that children should receive both parents' surnames unless decided otherwise. Franceschini views this as a correction to a historical injustice contributing to gender inequality. The proposal has sparked a heated debate, with right-wing politicians, such as Matteo Salvini and members of Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, mocking the initiative as misplaced priorities. While some support the proposal as a step towards equality, others argue Italy faces more pressing issues. The proposal requires parliamentary approval to become law, as the previous court ruling has not yet been implemented by legislation.