The German government agrees on the citizenship reform

2023-05-20 08:35:33, Kosova & Bota CNA

The German government agrees on the citizenship reform

Illustrative photo

Foreigners who have been living in Germany for years will be able to get a German passport faster. Until now they had to wait eight years to get a passport, in the future five will be enough. In a draft law of the German coalition, it is said that the faster granting of citizenship would be "an incentive to integrate more quickly", according to ZDF. According to the Minister of the Interior of Germany, Nancy Faeser (SPD), a faster integration is also possible. Those who have special achievements in integration can get German citizenship even after three years. This applies to those who speak German very well, achieve excellent results at work or engage in voluntary work.

Dual citizenship possible

Dual citizenship is also possible, according to the bill. It is about allowing some citizenships. "Many newcomers to Germany feel German, but they don't want to completely sever their relationship with their country of origin," said Faeser. In the future they will not be obliged to hand over a part of their identity.

Likewise, children born in Germany to foreign parents will obtain German citizenship more easily. The condition is that one of the parents has lived in Germany for at least five years. Until now this condition was eight years. The politician for internal affairs of the CDU, Alexander Throm, criticized the government's reform, because with it "the risk increases, that people who are not integrated enough will get citizenship too quickly". An integration after three or five years is too early, said Throm. "Integration needs its time."

Nancy Faeser

"Good sign" - anti-Semitism is an exclusionary criterion

The rules for faster integration through citizenship will not apply to those people who have caught the eye for anti-Semitic actions. "In order to be sure about this, we want to strengthen the verifications and security questions of people who apply for citizenship", said the leader of the parliamentary group of the Liberal Party, FDP, Stephan Thomae for "ZDFheute".

Refugees at the reception center, Aisenhytenshtat

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, supported this regulation. "I welcome it expressly," he said. An anti-Semitic act has also prevented the acquisition of citizenship before, but that it is now clearly included in the regulations is a good sign. The Left criticizes that this assumes that anti-Semitism is imported. It is also found deep in Germany, said a spokesman for the Left.

The FDP had requested a tightening of the rules. According to Stephan Thomae, citizenships that "cement the receipt of social assistance" should be prevented. Liberals seek to "acquire citizenship of those persons who can provide for themselves and their families." The regulations provide for exceptions for guest workers, "Gastarbeiter" and special hardship cases. The citizenship reform was foreseen in the coalition agreement. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the agreement reached in the government, the approvals in the German states begin./ DW