The next German government--consisting of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD)-- will abolish the 3-year expedited path to citizenship, the German news website dw.com reports.
The crucial move will impact thousands of people from Kerala, mainly in the healthcare and IT fields, who have moved to Germany in the hope of a better life and citizenship. In the recent years, Germany has emerged as a favourite migration destination of educated Kerala youths.
The 3-year path to citizenship became available to applicants last June, after the previous government--a coalition of the SPD, environmentalist Greens and business-focused Free Democratic Party--passed a reform on German naturalization.
The 3-year option allows applicants possessing an advanced C1 level of German language and other achievements of strong integration in German society--such as volunteer work or high achievements at work or in their studies--to apply for citizenship.
The conservative CDU and its Bavarian sister party the CSU had often criticized the 3-year path, calling it "turbo" naturalization. Some conservative critics claim that three years of residency in Germany is too short to receive German nationality.
However, immigrants will still be able to apply for German citizenship after 5 years of continuous residency in the country and an intermediate B1 level of German in line with last year's reform. Moreover, dual citizenship will still be permitted.
Prior to last year's reform, dual citizenship between Germany and a non-EU member state was largely not allowed. Since the reform came into effect, naturalization applications for German citizenship have spiked, with Germany's large Turkish community taking interest.
Although conservatives such as CDU leader and likely next German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have criticized the idea of dual citizenship, it seems they compromised on the issue during coalition talks with the SPD.
The next German coalition will also not pursue the idea of withdrawing German citizenship from naturalized people who are dual citizens.
Earlier, parties were interested in exploring the idea of whether German citizenship can be revoked from naturalized citizens characterized as terror supporters, antisemites or extremists who "call for the abolition of the free and democratic basic order."
This idea, put forward by the CDU/CSU, was criticized by the SPD as meaning that German citizenship would be "worth less" for dual nationals. The proposal was also condemned by migrant associations in Germany.
Instead, the coalition agreement for the next government said the parties will examine possible changes to expel those who "call for the abolition of the free and democratic basic order," but this would apply to non-citizens rather than dual nationals.
