The initiative was sponsored by the Italian Radicals Party and various associations and organizations, including the Christian Workers' Association (ACLI), the Italian Recreational and Cultural Association (ARCI), the Association for Judicial Studies on Immigration (ASGI), Centro Astalli Jesuit Service for Refugees in Italy, the Buon Diritto Rights Association, and the support of hundreds of mayors.

Campaign sponsors said the result "goes much further than the minimum goal of 50,000 necessary signatures, which the Italian constitution says is required to bring a citizens' initiative to the attention of Parliament

‘A first step’

“In the next legislature, the first law that will be assigned to the competent committees will be this one," said Italian Radicals Secretary Riccardo Magi, during a press conference at the Lower House of parliament. The bill is "a first pre-requisite step to move forward, and we all know the road is long and uphill, as shown by the law on ius soli, which I hope we will finish during this legislature," party's leader, Emma Bonino said, referring to the reform on Italian citizenship currently under discussion in parliament.

Bonino said that in the future, discussions would take place on how to bring this campaign to other European countries because "this isn't an Italian topic but a global and European one." Senator Luigi Manconi, president of the A Buon Diritto association, said the petition "took place in one of the darkest periods of our national life, at the intersection between social unrest and the actions of political entrepreneurs of fear, hate, and intolerance.”

"We have given an essential contribution to this country's ability to think, avoiding the blackmail of fear," he said.

The new law

The title of the citizens' initiative bill filed today in the Lower House is: "New laws for the promotion of regular stay permits and social and labour inclusion of non-EU foreign citizens." It is made up of eight articles that call for: the introduction of a temporary stay permit for job searching and mediation activities between employers and non-EU foreign workers; the reintroduction of the sponsor system; permits on an individual basis for "settled" foreigners; new standards for recognising professional qualifications; measures for inclusion through work by asylum seekers; social security benefits; equality in execution of social services; improved assurances for the right to healthcare for foreign citizens; effective participation in the democratic process with administrative vote and the elimination of undocumented migration as a crime.