Turkish citizenship demanded for exiled Istanbul Greeks

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Published on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 08:23

Read the full story on Today's Zaman.

Cyprus to grant citizenship to biggest bailout losers

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Published on Monday, 15 April 2013 10:38

The President of Cyprus, who took office in February 2013, unveiled a plan to grant citizenship to non-resident investors who lost at least EUR3 million under the bailout agreement. The new measure, which will primarily affect Russian citizens, is expected to be approved later this week. 

Read the articles on RT, the BBC, and DE (in English), and l'Echo (in French). 

"What is the name of Mariano Rajoy's wife?" A Senegalese migrant denied Spanish citizenship

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Published on Monday, 15 April 2013 10:09

By EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert Roxana Barbulescu. 

A Senegalese citizen, Magou Ndoye, was denied citizenship after failing to pass a test which included a question about the name of the wife of Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish Prime Minster. The Civil Registry in Almeria argued its decision to deny citizenship to Mr Ndoye on grounds that “he did not demonstrate integration in Spanish society”. However, in order to determine the level of integration of Mr Ndoye’s, the civil registry used a questionnaire that is not included or regulated in the current Spanish Citizenship Act.

Mr Ndoye has contested the decision in court. The appeal has been accepted by Audencia Nacional, a special and exceptional high Spanish court with jurisdiction across the Spanish territory and competence in international crimes.

Mr. Ndoye is a street vendor and has been a legal resident in Spain for 10 years.

Read the news in El Diario. 

Portugal follows Spain extending citizenship to Sephardic Jews

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Published on Sunday, 14 April 2013 09:56

Read the full story on the Globalpost.com.

Croatia elects its first MEPs

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Published on Friday, 12 April 2013 18:07

By Dejan Stjepanović, CITSEE Research Fellow 

On Sunday, 14 April 2013, the first election for Croatian members of the European Parliament will be held as the country’s accession to the European Union is set for 1 July 2013.

The election is the first one based on the reviewed electoral registers with some 3.7 million Croatian citizens eligible to vote, 763,814 fewer than in previous polls including the January 2012 referendum on joining the EU. The reviewed registers are supposed to alleviate a number of controversies surrounding the registers, including the actual number of voters, double voting and deceased citizens who were still enrolled in the registers. The Law on Electoral Registers, adopted on 21 December 2012 (Narodne novine br.: 144 21.12.2012.), introduced by the centre left government and representing a long-delayed clean-up of the registers, was largely opposed by the centre right which has in the past benefited from the diaspora votes. 

Some of the innovations of the law include the list of voters which is to be compiled for each election (or referendum) based on the updated register. These lists would include all adult citizens of Croatia who reside in the country and have a valid ID card as well as non-resident citizens who register for the particular election. The law includes the so-called ‘active registration’ clause, meaning that Croatian citizens residing abroad should register themselves for each election with the relevant diplomatic office. The law has meant that in the forthcoming EP election only 2,243 Croatian citizens residing abroad can exercise their voting rights – unlike in the referendum on EU membership when 412,628 were eligible.  Further, the law stipulates that EU citizens residing in Croatia can apply to be included in the local (and regional) electoral roll and can vote in local and regional (county) elections. The next local and regional elections will be held on 19 May 2013.

See also the article on GONG.

For more information on citizenship in Croatia, please consult the CITSEE website.