The co-leader of the SPD-Left, Sebastian Roloff, told the Handelsblatt: “I recommend that colleagues see themselves more as a responsible part of the coalition and not be taken in by the Union in the next campaign.” The FDP have decided moreover, “a liberal migration policy has been written on the flags”.
The Secretary General of the FDP, Bijan Djir-Sarai, had called the naturalization plans wrong. “There will be no devaluation of German citizenship with the FDP. It’s tough, but necessary,” he told the Rheinische Post. The union also expressed its disapproval.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz emphasized on ARD television that immigration into the labor market is important. However, immigration into the social systems must be prevented. The Union will only agree to necessary improvements in citizenship law. The regional group chairman of the CSU in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, spoke of a “sale” of German citizenship.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
With their critical stance, the Liberals are clearly opposed to their coalition partners SPD and Greens. Because the traffic light parties had agreed in their coalition agreement that foreigners in Germany can more easily obtain German citizenship. Interior Minister Faeser is now driving the issue forward. A ministry spokesman told the Handelsblatt that the draft of a corresponding law will “soon” go through the internal government departmental vote.
Scholz promotes reform of citizenship law
In a guest article for the “Tagesspiegel”, Faeser confirmed the coalition plan: Foreigners who have a qualified right of residence should be able to obtain citizenship after five years instead of eight years as before. In the case of “special integration achievements”, this should even be possible after three years – for example if immigrants have shown special academic or professional achievements or voluntary commitment or have particularly good language skills.
The FDP general secretary criticizes the plans of the traffic light partner SPD.
(Photo: IMAGO/Mauersberger)
“With the new nationality law, we are therefore creating incentives for integration instead of building up hurdles and demanding long waiting times,” wrote the minister.
>> Read also: FDP Federal Vice Kubicki attacks Economics Minister Habeck – “We have to be careful like a gun dog”
Backing came from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany needs better regulations for naturalization, the SPD politician explained in a video message from the weekend. The women and men who have come to Germany over the past few decades have made a major contribution to the German economy doing so well.
“Some have lived here for a very, very long time and have children and grandchildren,” said Scholz. “And that’s why it’s very good when those who have lived with us for so long also decide to acquire German citizenship.”
FDP General Secretary Djir-Sarai rejected the SPD plans, pointing out that there had been no progress on repatriation and on combating illegal migration. The responsible departments did not even manage to appoint the special representative, he said.
DIW President sees SPD plans as “an important element in making Germany more attractive to foreign skilled workers”
In their coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed on a “repatriation offensive” “to implement departures more consistently, in particular the deportation of criminals and those who are dangerous.” A special representative should be responsible, but this does not yet exist. One should therefore “not take the second step before the first,” warned Djir-Sarai.
>> Read also: Germany is missing around 326,000 mint experts
The FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann sees it the same way. Before Interior Minister Faeser makes quick naturalizations “a matter for the bosses, she should first ensure that those who are illegal here, those who may also have been noticed by law, are properly returned first,” said Strack-Zimmermann , who belongs to the board of the party and parliamentary group, in the RTL/ntv program “Frühstart”.
The SPD and the Greens see no reason to move away from Faeser’s plans. The SPD politician Roloff said: “The fact that we are now implementing the progressive topics that we were able to record in the coalition agreement in this area should not surprise anyone.”
His parliamentary colleague Ralf Stegner added that “one of the main justifications for this progressive coalition” is a “progressive and modern immigration policy” that has so far been blocked by the conservatives. “We will also implement this, not least in order to effectively combat the shortage of skilled workers.”
This is also the argument of the President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Marcel Fratzscher. “Germany’s skilled labor problem will be exacerbated massively by demographics and increasing competition for the brightest minds if politicians don’t act much more decisively than before,” he told the Handelsblatt. “A clear perspective on nationality is an important element in making Germany more attractive for foreign skilled workers.”
More: Measure against shortage of skilled workers – FDP demands English in offices