Italian Politician Proposes Law to Assign Newborns Their Mother's Surname

Dario Franceschini's proposal challenges Italy's patriarchal naming tradition, reigniting political and cultural debates over gender equality and legal reforms.

• Dario Franceschini of the Democratic Party has announced plans to formally present a bill in parliament to automatically assign newborns their mother's surname.
• The proposal builds on a 2022 constitutional court ruling that deemed the automatic assignment of a father's surname discriminatory and called for legislative action.
• Left-wing politicians support the proposal as a step toward correcting historical gender inequality, while right-wing politicians criticize it as unnecessary and provocative.
• Critics, including right-wing leaders Matteo Salvini and Federico Mollicone, argue the change shifts from patriarchy to matriarchy and question its prioritization over pressing national issues.
• The proposal also raises practical concerns about double-barrelled surnames and potential inconsistencies for siblings born under differing rules.

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