Passport checks, sweeping checks at embassies and consulates throughout South America –

In addition to Venezuela, Tajani has ordered inspections in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Checks with the Police, Carabinieri and Finance «to combat illicit phenomena»

Dario Martini

07 maggio 2024

Widespread investigations by the Farnesina throughout South America. Not only in Venezuela, as reported yesterday by . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to shed full light on the Passportpoli which has spread over the years and which, with this government, is finally coming to light. The case of the Consulate of Caracas, where inspectors from the ministry arrived accompanied by financiers and carabinieri on 12 April, could be just the tip of the iceberg. As documented in our investigation, it all started with a complaint to the Rome prosecutor’s office by an FdI deputy, Andrea Di Giuseppe, who asked to control «the issuing of passports by the Italian consular authorities for the benefit of subjects in various capacities residents in Venezuela who are not entitled to it or, in any case, on the basis of the documentation received irregularly through delegated subjects and without the dutiful signature of the original requests in front of the personnel specifically authorized by the Consulate”. The suspicion is that Italian citizenship has gone to dozens (if not hundreds) of people who have nothing to do with our country. Citizenships obtained thanks to non-existent ancestors appearing in the registers of very small Italian municipalities.

Yesterday the Farnesina announced in a note that «the inspections ordered by the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in the Embassies and consular offices of some South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela) continue in recent weeks, aimed at ascertaining the correct management of administrative and consular procedures and, in particular, the regularity of the procedures linked to the recognition of Italian citizenship”. As the Ministry is keen to point out, these are «inspection missions that are part of an all-round action», ordered by Tajani «shortly after taking office at the Ministry, to combat and prevent illicit phenomena and to continue to improve the quality of the services provided by the Farnesina’s foreign network”.

Not only that, the prosecutor’s offices will also be involved, since «the results of the checks, carried out by Ministry personnel assisted by personnel from the State Police, the Carabinieri and the Financial Police on numerous files and other administrative documents, and the final reports of the inspection delegation will, as usual, be made available to the competent authorities”. The Farnesina also recalls that the inspections in Latin America follow those already carried out last year in the embassies of other countries considered sensitive: Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, «aimed at ascertaining any irregularities linked to procedures relating to the issuing of visas for Italy”.