Dispute over naturalization reform: Scholz advocates the possibility of multiple citizenship

According to Interior Minister Faeser's plans, citizens from other countries should be able to apply for a German passport after just five years.

Dispute over naturalization reform: Scholz advocates the possibility of multiple citizenship

According to Interior Minister Faeser's plans, citizens from other countries should be able to apply for a German passport after just five years. This caused criticism, also from the FDP. Chancellor Scholz defends the draft law.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has committed himself to a reform of the naturalization law in Germany. "Anyone who lives and works here on a permanent basis should also be able to vote and be elected, they should be part of our country with all the rights and obligations that go with it," said Scholz at an event in Berlin. This applies completely regardless of origin, skin color or religious belief. Scholz also expressly advocated the possibility of multiple citizenships.

Some quarreled with the naturalization decision because they did not want to give up their former citizenship and thus a strong bond with their country of origin. "I never understood why we insisted. Belonging and identity are not a zero-sum game." A democracy lives from the opportunity to have a say, emphasized Scholz. "This is how legitimacy is created, this is how the acceptance of government decisions grows." That is why "it must be important to us that the population and the electorate do not fall apart".

With the new citizenship law, there should be fewer bureaucratic hurdles for naturalization, shorter deadlines and the possibility of multiple citizenship. Around 60 percent of those who were naturalized already retained their previous citizenship. At the same time, Scholz admitted: "Of course, not everyone who wants to come to us can stay here permanently." There are limits to a country's absorption capacity, exceeding which is at the expense of both the acceptance of immigration and the success of integration.

However, the reality is that two-thirds of the increase in the number of employees can be attributed to immigrants without a German passport. And although the number of employees has developed so positively, the number of vacancies is currently at an all-time high, said Scholz. "That's why we ensure better training and further education opportunities here in Germany. And at the same time, we also need skilled workers from abroad." Next Wednesday, the federal cabinet will therefore decide on key points on the immigration of skilled workers.

According to the plans of Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, foreigners should generally be able to obtain a German passport after five years instead of eight. For members of the so-called guest worker generation, the hurdles for naturalization are to be lowered. The possibilities for multiple citizenship are to be expanded. There is much criticism of the template, including the FDP.