A new law put forth by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party could result in fines of up to €100,000 (US$108,705) for Italians who use English and other foreign words in official conversations.
The legislation was proposed by lower house deputies member Fabio Rampelli, and it has the support of the prime minister.
Although all foreign languages are covered by the law, it is specifically targeted at "Anglomania," or the use of English words, which the draft claims "demeans and mortifies" the Italian language. It adds that this is made worse by the UK's exit from the EU.
Anyone holding a position in public administration is required by the bill, which has not yet been brought up for parliamentary discussion, to have "written and oral knowledge and mastery of the Italian language." Additionally, it forbids the use of "acronyms and names" for job titles in locally running businesses in the official documentation.
According to a draft of the law, foreign companies would need Italian language versions of all internal policies and employment contracts.
The draft bill states: “It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, but Anglomania has repercussions for society as a whole.”
The Culture Ministry would create a committee under the proposed legislation, and its mandate would include "correct use of the Italian language and its pronunciation" in educational institutions, the media, business, and advertising.
The initiative to preserve the Italian language joins a current government effort to safeguard the nation's cuisine.
Due to the lack of scientific research on the effects of synthetic food and " to safeguard our nation’s heritage and our agriculture based on the Mediterranean diet," Meloni's Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said at a press conference that the government had introduced legislation to outlaw so-called synthetic or cell-based cuisine.
The status of Italian cuisine as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site classification, which will be decided in December 2025, was formally submitted last week by the country's ministers of culture and agriculture.
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