BERLIN: German lawmakers on Friday approved legislation easing the rules on gaining citizenship and ending restrictions on holding dual citizenship. The government argues the plan will bolster the integration of immigrants and help attract skilled workers.
Parliament voted 382-234 for the plan put forward by centre-left chancellor Olaf Scholz's socially liberal coalition, with 23 lawmakers abstaining. The main centre-right opposition bloc criticised the project vehemently, arguing it would cheapen German citizenship. The legislation will make people eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany, or three in case of "special integration accomplishments," rather than eight or six years at present. German-born children would automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years.
Restrictions on holding dual citizenship will also be dropped. In principle, people from countries other than EU members and Switzerland now have to give up their previous nationality, though there are some exemptions.
The government says that 14% of the population doesn't have German citizenship and that about 5.3 million of those have lived in Germany for at least a decade. In 2022, about 168,500 people were granted German citizenship.
The conservative opposition asserted that Germany is loosening citizenship requirements just as other countries are tightening theirs. ap