A debate has emerged within the governing coalition regarding the potential revocation of German citizenship from individuals holding dual passports.
The proposal, put forward by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) concerning the withdrawal of passports, has been questioned regarding its effectiveness. Sebastian Fiedler, the SPD parliamentary group’s spokesperson for domestic policy, stated in an interview with “Handelsblatt” that it wouldn’t significantly advance efforts to combat international terrorism.
Instead, Fiedler emphasized the need to strengthen the capabilities of the federal security agencies and equip them with expanded authorities. He argued this is crucial not only for countering traditional terrorism but also for safeguarding against hybrid threats originating from countries like Russia, China and Iran – a point of agreement within the coalition. Fiedler cautioned against diverting attention with issues outside the scope of the governing agreement.
Prior to this, CDU politician Alexander Throm had advocated for the revocation of passports, noting that German citizenship can already be lost for individuals participating in combat actions for foreign terror organizations. Throm suggested extending this principle to encompass acts of terrorism committed within Germany.
