“Not time for simplification”: FDP opposes coalition partners on naturalization

“Not time for simplification”
FDP opposes coalition partners on naturalization

In their coalition agreement, the Ampel parties had agreed to make naturalization easier. The Minister of the Interior is now driving the issue forward. But the FDP is stepping on the brakes.

The FDP opposes the naturalization reform initiated by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “Now is not the time to simplify citizenship law,” said FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai to the “Rheinische Post” on Monday. “So far there has been no progress whatsoever in returning people and combating illegal migration.” The coalition should not take the “second step before the first”.

Referring to SPD politician Faeser’s plans to speed up naturalizations, DJir-Sarai said that the granting of citizenship was the result of successful integration into German society. “You must not be at the beginning of the integration process.”

The SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed in their coalition agreement that foreigners in Germany could more easily obtain German citizenship. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is now driving the issue forward. A draft law by the Ministry of the Interior provides that people in particular who have already lived in this country for several years can become German citizens more easily.

CDU: Do not “devalue” a German passport

In a guest article for the “Tagesspiegel”, Faeser had called for foreigners who have a qualified right of residence to be able to naturalize after five years instead of the previous eight years. A period of three years applies to particularly well-integrated people. “With the new nationality law, we are therefore creating incentives for integration instead of building up hurdles and demanding long waiting times,” wrote the Interior Minister.

The Union also criticized the interior minister’s plans. The German passport should not be invalidated, said CDU general secretary Mario Czaja of the “Rheinische Post”. It must continue to apply: “First integration, then citizenship”.

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