The proposed Italian law would outlaw the use of English, and offenders would be subject to penalties of up to $110,000.

An Italian lawmaker from the right-wing Brothers of Italy party has proposed a law that would ban the use of English in official documents, with hefty fines for those who fail to comply. The bill, presented by Fabio Rampelli, a member of the Brothers of Italy party to which Giorgia Meloni also belongs, has caused controversy. While some politicians close to Meloni have distanced themselves from the proposal, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has assured reporters that it is not a government initiative. Public employees could face fines ranging from €5,000 to €100,000 if they are caught using foreign instead of Italian words in public communication. The fines could also be imposed on firms using foreign terms for job titles or schools and universities that use non-Italian expressions.

Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, has described herself as a proud conservative and nationalist. She has been accused of embracing some of the hallmarks of Italian fascism, although she insists that she is not a fascist. Meanwhile, France already has similar legislation in place, which applies to all government and official documents, including contracts, job contracts, property deeds of sale and rental agreements. The French law permits the use of some foreign terms in contracts, so long as they are explained in French. The Académie Française, France’s language watchdog, combats the use of foreign words, particularly English ones, in everyday language.