Italian lawmaker links “Moroccan” to “crook” in bizarre explanation of bill’s nickname
In Italy, a lawmaker from Matteo Salvini’s party drew a connection between the words “Moroccan” and “crook” to explain the nickname of a bill on citizenship. He gave the surprising explanation at a news conference about young people from immigrant backgrounds.
The scene unfolded on Monday, October 19, at the League’s headquarters in Milan. Matteo Salvini and lawmaker Igor Iezzi were presenting a bill aimed at tightening the requirements for obtaining and revoking Italian citizenship. The bill has been nicknamed the “anti-maranza law,” referring to a popular expression for certain groups of young people with rowdy behaviour, reports the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano.
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Asked about the exact meaning of the word, Matteo Salvini preferred to hand over to Igor Iezzi, the bill’s author. The lawmaker then suggested a possible origin for the term: a blend of “marocchino,” meaning Moroccan in Italian, and “zanza,” a slang word for a crook or con artist.
Salvini admitted: “I have no idea.” Igor Iezzi continued his explanation, claiming that many second-generation Italians are “maranza,” a term he associated with people who commit certain offences. He cited, in particular, insulting a public official, mafia association and labour exploitation.
A word whose origin remains mysterious
The lawmaker’s explanation is far from universally accepted by linguists. The prestigious Italian dictionary Treccani notes that the origin of the word “maranza” remains uncertain. Used as early as the 1980s, the term initially referred to people with flashy clothing styles and provocative behaviour.
Another theory points to “Marantz,” a brand of audio equipment that was very popular at the time. The word later evolved to refer to certain groups of young people in urban neighbourhoods, particularly as it gained popularity on social media.
Behind this linguistic controversy is a very real reform. The bill put forward by Igor Iezzi would deny Italian citizenship to people convicted of certain offences, particularly those related to drug trafficking. It would also broaden the grounds for revoking citizenship and tighten certain language requirements.
According to the official dossier of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, these provisions are part of bill A.C. 2124-A, which is still under parliamentary review. The debate over the word “maranza” thus accompanies a reform that could change the conditions for obtaining citizenship for many foreign nationals and young people born in Italy.
