by Guisela Chiarella
A proposal to automatically assign children their mother’s surname at birth has ignited a contentious debate in Italy, highlighting long-standing discussions on gender equality and family naming traditions.
The idea was introduced last week by Senator Dario Franceschini, a senior figure in the center-left Democratic Party (PD) and former minister of culture, during a party meeting focused on proposed legislation concerning double surnames. Franceschini argued that the move would address gender inequality and rectify what he described as a “centuries-old injustice.”
Legal Background
The debate follows a 2021 ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court, which declared the automatic assignment of only the father’s surname unlawful, calling it “discriminatory and harmful to the identity of the child.” The court ruled that children should receive both parents’ surnames in an order agreed upon by the parents, or in cases of disagreement, determined by a judge. Parents could also mutually decide to assign only one surname.
Despite the ruling, legislative efforts to formalize the change have stalled in Parliament, prompting Franceschini’s proposal as an alternative to simplify the process.
Franceschini’s Rationale
Franceschini argued that requiring children to take their mother’s surname would eliminate complications in managing double surnames and end the historical precedent of automatically passing down only the father’s name.
“After centuries in which children have taken their father’s surname, we must establish that, under the new law, they will take only their mother’s surname,” Franceschini said. He described the measure as “a simple thing” that serves as “compensation for a centuries-old injustice” that has reinforced gender inequality in Italy.
While Franceschini’s proposal remains a verbal one for now, he assured that it would soon be presented as a formal bill in the Senate.
Political Backlash
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from leaders on the political right. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party, dismissed the idea as a distraction from more pressing issues.
“Here are the great priorities of the Italian left,” Salvini wrote on the social media platform X. “Instead of a double surname, they want to take away the father’s surname from children. Let’s wipe fathers off the face of the earth—this will solve all our problems.”
Other right-wing politicians echoed similar concerns. Federico Mollicone, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, warned that the change would shift Italy “from patriarchy to matriarchy.” Senator Pierantonio Zanettin of Forza Italia described the proposal as “more of a provocation aimed at media attention” than a serious legislative solution.
Giulia Bongiorno, a League senator and president of the Senate’s Justice Commission, offered a more measured critique, calling for a compromise that “does not make any parent invisible.”
Even within Franceschini’s own party, reactions were mixed. PD deputy Stefano Lepri rejected the notion that the father’s surname is solely a legacy of patriarchy, arguing instead that it serves as an acknowledgment of paternal responsibility.
A Broader Debate
The controversy underscores broader tensions in Italy over gender roles and family structures. While some advocate for modernizing naming conventions to reflect equality between parents, others see the proposal as an unnecessary and divisive measure.
As the bill moves forward, it remains unclear whether Franceschini’s proposal will gain traction in a deeply divided Parliament—or whether lawmakers will seek a more balanced approach to surname assignment.
