Nationality law
Easier naturalization: Union criticizes planned reform
German identity card: In Germany, 14 percent of the population are not German citizens. photo
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
The reform for easier naturalization pushed by the traffic light government is to be passed in the Bundestag. The opposition speaks of a “citizenship devaluation law”.
According to Throm, the reform of the traffic light coalition is going in completely the wrong direction. The spokesman emphasized that Germany was reducing its requirements, while other countries, such as France, were tightening their naturalization rules. “We can no longer guarantee that we will naturalize people in the future who are actually not yet sustainably integrated.”
Faeser: You have to be able to keep up when recruiting skilled workers
From the perspective of Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, the reform is necessary in order to attract urgently needed skilled workers to Germany. “We also have to make people, qualified people from all over the world, an offer like the USA, like Canada,” where acquiring citizenship is of course part of it, said the SPD politician.
In general, multiple nationalities should be possible in the future. Naturalization should be possible after five years of residence in Germany instead of the current eight, and with special integration services after three years.
“There needs to be an appreciation for the people who come to our country and help our society function,” said Faeser. She gave examples of nurses, doctors and service staff in the restaurant. Especially in view of the current exclusion of people with a migration background by the right-wing fringe, she advocates seeing the new nationality law as an opportunity.
Inequality when it comes to dual citizenship
Faeser also emphasized that inequality when it comes to dual citizenship will be eliminated. “So far, around 60 percent of us have dual nationalities, which are already permitted, and around 40 percent are not.”
“Otherwise, we also have stricter rules regarding the acquisition of German citizenship because you have to provide for your own living,” said Faeser. This requirement already applies so far, but exceptions will only be made for certain cases in the future.
The integration officer Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD) emphasized that the requirements for naturalization would remain high even after the reform. “Whether after eight years or now after five years, the examination processes and the requirements are exactly the same,” she said. Overall, around 14 percent of the population are not German citizens. “That means they can’t vote, they can’t be elected, they can’t take part in politics, even though some of them have been living here for over ten years.”
Today the Bundestag wants to discuss and decide on the reform pushed by the traffic light coalition for easier naturalization. In general, multiple nationalities should be possible in the future. Naturalization should be possible after five years of residence in Germany instead of the current eight, and with special integration services after three years.