A growing chorus of conservative politicians within the German governing CDU/CSU alliance are openly questioning the practice of dual citizenship, fueled by concerns over recent urban landscape debates and a record number of naturalizations in 2024. The unprecedented 292,000 naturalizations last year, with 28% stemming from Syrian refugees, have intensified scrutiny of the long-standing policy.
Calls for a swift revocation of German citizenship for individuals convicted of crimes are gaining traction. A proposal, prominently featured in the daily newspaper “Bild”, advocates for making dual citizenship a rarity for future naturalization applicants.
CSU Member of the Bundestag, Stephan Mayer, expressed strong sentiment, asserting that individuals engaged in violence, serious criminality, posing a threat to the constitution, exhibiting antisemitism, or expressing hatred toward Germany, should face immediate loss of citizenship if they hold dual nationality. “It cannot be acceptable that we grant the privilege of citizenship and then have these individuals later trample on our values and disrespect us” Mayer stated. He further challenged the fundamental premise of dual nationality, questioning whether Germany can afford to maintain the current system.
Adding another dimension to the debate, Hesse’s Interior Minister, Roman Poseck, is pushing for the potential denaturalization of supporters of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. Following the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Poseck argues that individuals associated with Hamas are fundamentally at odds with German values, warranting a review of their citizenship status.
Cornelia Babendererde, CDU’s parliamentary spokesperson for citizenship law, echoed the sentiment that dual citizenship should be the exception, not the rule. She voiced anxieties regarding the significant percentage (80% in 2023) of newly naturalized citizens who retain their previous nationality, raising questions about the depth of their loyalty and identification with Germany. Babendererde suggests that the primary motivation for seeking citizenship may be driven by accessing the benefits afforded by a German passport, rather than genuine integration and commitment to the nation.
The increasingly vocal criticism and proposed reforms highlight a growing tension within German society regarding integration, national identity and the evolving definition of citizenship in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, potentially signaling a significant shift in immigration policy.