German Christian Parties Seek to Abolish Dual Citizenship

As German elections approach, several senior members of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social parties are calling for the abolition of dual citizenship. Children of immigrants can hold both German citizenship and the citizenship of their parents’ country of origin under certain conditions.

On Sunday (April 23 / Ordibehesht 3), Reuters reported that opposition to dual citizenship for children of immigrants in Germany has intensified again. According to the report, Andreas Scheuer, secretary general of the Christian Democratic Party, Joachim Herrmann, interior minister of Bavaria and a senior member of the Christian Social party, and several other senior members of these two parties are calling for the abolition of an agreement they made with the Social Democratic Party. These three parties form the coalition government.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has emphasized that such action is not possible until the end of this year’s elections. For this reason, opponents of dual citizenship have asked the leaders of the two Christian parties to include this issue in their party platform and emphasize it in election campaigns.

In April 2014, the Christian parties accepted a proposal from the Social Democrats, according to which immigrant-origin citizens who were born in Germany and have lived in the country for eight years or attended school for six years by the age of 21 can hold dual citizenship.

The Social Democratic Party had said that dual citizenship strengthens the integration of young people of immigrant origin.

Last December, the Christian Democratic Party congress voted by majority to abolish these provisions. Congress members called for a return to the previous law, under which children of immigrants had to choose between German citizenship and the citizenship of their parents’ country of origin by age 23.

Last year, demonstrations by tens of thousands of Turkish citizens in the city of Cologne in support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fueled the debate about the success of dual citizenship provisions. Many young Turkish people, presumed to hold both German and Turkish citizenship, participated in these demonstrations.

Turkey’s Constitutional Referendum

Now, following the announcement of the results of Turkey’s constitutional referendum, the debate over the application and success of dual citizenship has intensified again. Many observers believe that this measure has failed to promote the integration of Turkish immigrant children into German society and acceptance of its values.

About two-thirds of Turkish-origin Germans voted in favor of the referendum on changing Turkey’s constitution.

Ines Pohl, editor-in-chief of Deutsche Welle, says on this matter: “When so many Turkish-origin German citizens defend someone who is trying to reinstate capital punishment in his own country, surely a major mistake has been made in integration policy.”

Pohl calls on the German government to make genuine efforts to find a solution to this problem and address the political and civic shortcomings in the country. The Deutsche Welle editor-in-chief also warns that measures such as ending dual citizenship and expelling some foreigners are not the way forward and “ultimately serve the goals of some populist groups like the right-wing ‘Alternative for Germany’ party.”

The Green and Left parties, which are in opposition, have also repeatedly warned that restricting the rights of immigrants and their children grist the mill of far-right extremists. They believe that immigrant children should decide for themselves whether to have one or two nationalities.

Source: DW