by Thomas Escritt
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany adopted a law on Friday providing for the relaxation of the conditions for obtaining German nationality and extending the conditions for granting dual nationality.
Supported by the coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, this new law, which should make it possible to improve the attractiveness of a country losing demographic speed, was adopted after heated debates in Parliament where opposition deputies accused the government to devalue nationality.
It will now be possible to apply for German nationality after five years of residence in the country, instead of the current eight. People who are “exceptionally well integrated” will be able to obtain nationality after having resided in the country for three years.
Dual nationality was until now only granted to nationals of other European Union countries or Switzerland.
The Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, considered that a new law was necessary in order to compete with countries like Canada or the United States to attract qualified labor.
In a video broadcast on Friday, Olaf Scholz welcomed the adoption of the new law.
“With this new nationality law, we say to everyone who lives and works in Germany, often for decades, you respect our laws, you are here at home: You are part of Germany,” he said. he says.
The law was sent to the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to be signed into law.
(Report by Thomas Escritt; French version by Camille Raynaud)
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