By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 05 Jul 2016 • 11:01
HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition calling on the Spanish government to grant dual nationality to British expats resident in Spain for more than a decade.
Madrid-based British author and journalist Giles Tremlett, who has written a history of the country, launched the petition on Monday July 4 which has already secured more than 400 signatures.
Tremlett, who has lived in Spain for roughly 25 years, began the petition due to concerns about his pension, and legal rights should he return to the UK to look after his parents.
He argues that Spanish nationals have the option of applying for dual citizenship in the UK after working there for five years, yet Spanish law demands that foreigners renounce their nationality of birth. The petition also refers to the decision by the Spanish government to offer dual nationality to proven ancestors of Jews expelled from Spain during the 1492 inquisition.
“With Brexit, I’ve effectively been expelled from my European citizenship against my choice and with no say in the matter,” he told local media.
“Spain has been a member of the EU for 30 years, Britain for 40 years,”
“That’s long enough for people to have based their entire life plans, their careers, their families, etc on being a European citizen.
“It’s both traumatic and dramatic to have that snatched away.”
You can find the petition at https://www.change.org/p/gobierno-de-espa%C3%B1a-doble-nacionalidad-para-brit%C3%A1nicos-con-mas-de-diez-a%C3%B1os-de-residencia-en-espa%C3%B1a
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