Over a million descendants of Spaniards have applied for citizenship, overwhelming consulates

[carride]

descendants of Spanish exiles or emigrants have already applied for citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ consular network,

More than 40% of the applications, around one million, come from Argentina.

Over a million descendants of Spaniards have applied for citizenship, overwhelming consulates

Another 1.3 million are waiting for an appointment. The avalanche of applications in the final months before a deadline expired could delay the process for years. Most applicants come from Argentina, followed by Cuba and Mexico

english.elpais.com

 

[LuckyLuke]

Who could have possibly imagined such an influx would happen....

 

[carride]

Who could have possibly imagined such an influx would happen....

View attachment 10712

Well this has less to do with past empire issues that might be more common in other European countries. These applicants are children or grandchildren of people who left Spain in the past century. Probably during Spanish civil war or the following dictatorship. Spanish government has decided to allow those who qualify to apply as a way of redemption.

 

[ArgentinaVet]

Well this has less to do with past empire issues that might be more common in other European countries. These applicants are children or grandchildren of people who left Spain in the past century. Probably during Spanish civil war or the following dictatorship. Spanish government has decided to allow those who qualify to apply as a way of redemption.

This.
People may not realize it judging by today's Spain, but back in the Franco era the country was extremely poor and suffered from shortages of food and other essentials. There was a mass emigration from Francoist Spain to Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, etc. My wife's grandparents emigrated from Spain during this time and my in-laws and wife all have Spanish citizenship as a result. It was not until Franco died and the EU basically took over Spain that the country emerged from poverty.

 

[QuilmesSlo]

It’s not a bad deal for Spain; Spain needs people and Latins integrate easily there.

Hard to go to a Spanish restaurant these days without getting a Colombian or Venezuelan waiter.

 

[Rich One]

Is not a bad deal for Spain; Spain needs people and Latins integrate easily there.

Hard to go to a Spanish restaurant these days without getting a Colombian or Venezuelan waiter.

Spain and Italy face labor shortages , It's a no brainer Spain and Italy should open an express line to issue work permits, upon arrival for qualified workers, that are descendants of these countries

 

[rdcooper]

Does that mean that Argentina is de-Europeanizing?

 

[El_fuego]

Spain and Italy face labor shortages , It's a no brainer Spain and Italy should open an express line to issue work permits, upon arrival for qualified workers, that are descendants of these countries

labour shortages in unattractive jobs. the same reason you don't see an argentine taking a construction job at home is the same reason spainyards arent. low pay and bad hours. i assure you that the argentines who are getting spanish citizenship are not moving there to work as a construction or agricultral worker.

 

[Vossos]

labour shortages in unattractive jobs. the same reason you don't see an argentine taking a construction job at home is the same reason spainyards arent. low pay and bad hours. i assure you that the argentines who are getting spanish citizenship are not moving there to work as a construction or agricultral worker.

Combined with extremely high youth unemployment, very poor wages, and a reluctance to invest in training staff, Spain and Italy both experience significant brain drains. As ever, these are only shortages locally as the pay doesn’t reflect the work especially if companies can even further undercut with increased access to workers willing to work for lower pay and working standards.

As a skilled professional there are few reasons to remain in Spain or Italy when other Schengen countries offer significantly better salaries

 

[MarshallE]

Does that mean that Argentina is de-Europeanizing?

Yes it's noticeable in Buenos Aires compared to before. The Argentines with European ancestry are leaving to go to USA or Europe for better opportunities. Meanwhile people from Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela etc are coming in droves, not to mention the folks living in Villas or usurping land