The German Bundestag has approved a significant amendment to the citizenship law, raising the standard residency requirement for naturalization and sparking a contentious debate over integration policies. The new legislation, passed Wednesday with a vote of 450 in favor, 134 against and two abstentions, uniformly sets a five-year residency requirement for citizenship, effectively abolishing the previously expedited process for individuals demonstrating exceptional integration achievements after just three years.
The move, championed by the governing coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD, alongside support from the far-right AfD, ostensibly aims to reframe German citizenship as a recognition of successful integration rather than an incentive for irregular migration, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. “We are eliminating this so-called ‘turbo’ naturalization after three years without replacement” Dobrindt stated.
However, the AfD dismissed the alteration as insufficient, characterizing it as a superficial change addressing a provision that has proven largely symbolic in practice. Jochen Haug of the AfD argued that the provision, which afforded expedited naturalization in a relatively small number of cases, represented a mere “cosmetic correction” intended to placate a population increasingly disillusioned with current immigration policies.
SPD parliamentarian Sonja Eichwede welcomed the bipartisan agreement, highlighting its resolution of a prolonged political conflict over dual citizenship. This compromise marks a potential shift in government policy, though it fails to satisfy all political factions.
The Green Party and the Left (Die Linke) sharply criticized the legislation. Filiz Polat of the Greens argued that the raised threshold penalizes individuals who proactively demonstrate strong integration and engagement with German society. Citing studies, Polat emphasized that access to citizenship strengthens the economic, social and political participation of immigrants, improving employment prospects and potentially boosting investment – factors crucial for retaining skilled professionals.
Feret Kocak of Die Linke launched a broader indictment of the government’s migration policy. He accused the ruling coalition of legitimizing the rhetoric of the AfD through restrictive measures, potentially contributing to the party’s growing political influence. Kocak demanded greater participation rights for long-term residents, advocating for the right to vote even without German citizenship after a five-year residency period. The debate underscores deepening political divisions regarding immigration, integration and the fundamental principles underpinning German citizenship.
