The leader of Italy's centre-left opposition provoked a storm on Monday when he called for immigrants to be given the right to vote.
In an open letter to House Speaker Gianfranco Fini, Walter Veltroni said foreigners should be able to vote in local elections, regardless of whether they have applied for Italian citizenship.
''Foreigners living in Italy's cities or small towns contribute to the life of the community and have children that study here who will be the artisans, labourers, traders and managers of tomorrow,'' said Veltroni.
''Just as these individuals have a duty to pay taxes and respect the law, so they should have other rights recognized, such as helping choose the administrators who will shape their own future and that of their family''.
In the letter, Veltroni announced his plan to table a constitutional bill later this week that would guarantee immigrants who have been living in Italy for at least five years the right to vote in administrative and other local elections.
Former minister Livia Turco, who is co-sponsoring the bill, explained that if approved, it would amend article 48 of the Italian Constitution, which guarantees voting rights to all ''Italian citizens''.
''It would introduce an important way for citizens - who live in Italy and pay their taxes - to participate in community life'', she said.
But the proposal was greeted with fierce criticism among the centre right majority.
Isabella Bertolini, immigration coordinator for the People of Freedom (PDL) party, said: ''Duties are more important than rights'' for immigrants.
Maurizio Gasparri, Senate whip for the PDL, said the Constitution was clear and should not be changed.
''The vote in general and administrative elections is for Italian citizens only. Those who have lived in Italy for ten years can apply to become citizens with those rights if they want,'' he said.
Roberto Cota, House whip for the Northern League party, suggested the proposal could have dangerous repercussions.
''It would be extremely perilous to open the floodgates in such a sensitive area - who knows where we could end up?'' he said.
The right of immigrants to vote in local elections has reared its head several times in recent years.
The Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court, in 2005 rejected a move by the city of Genoa to allow immigrants to vote in municipal elections, saying only central government had the power to extend voting rights.
In 2004, Rome allowed foreigners in the city to elect representatives to ''advise'' the city council. These representatives have no powers of their own and are only allowed to offer opinions on policy.
However, the biggest drive to give foreigners voting rights was spearheaded by the previous centre-left government shortly after coming to power in 2006.
The proposal, which would have given foreigners the right to vote in municipal elections, stalled in parliament and was later dropped.
A poll by research institute IREF last year found that almost 60% of foreigners living in Italy said they thought voting rights would help them feel more integrated and ''less foreign''.
