The proposal by the conservative Union faction to strip German passports from individuals with dual citizenship who commit serious crimes has ignited a fierce political backlash, particularly from the Green Party, raising questions about the government’s approach to security and integration. Omid Nouripour, Green Party parliamentarian and Vice-President of the Bundestag, sharply criticized the move, accusing the CDU of resorting to “symbolic debates” to distract from genuine issues affecting public safety and societal integration. He urged both coalition partners to avoid drawing divisive lines that could ultimately exacerbate tensions.
The Green Party’s parliamentary leader, Filiz Polat, condemned the proposal as a “transparent and perfidious attempt” to effectively rescind dual citizenship through a backdoor maneuver, asserting that it has no bearing on actual security concerns. Polat directly linked the proposal to the CDU’s recent and struggling debate on urban landscapes, branding it a “dangerous diversionary tactic”. She cautioned that such “constitutionally questionable demands” would harm citizens, fracture society and inadvertently bolster the political gains of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The initiative, championed by CSU interior policy expert Stephan Mayer and other Union politicians, has been positioned as a measure to strengthen national security and deter criminal activity. However, the Green Party remains unconvinced, arguing that it unfairly targets a broad group of individuals and risks undermining the principles of the rule of law.
Observers suggest the proposal reflects a broader, increasingly polarized political climate in Germany, where anxieties surrounding immigration, crime and national identity are being leveraged for political gain. The future of the measure and the potential impact on the governing coalition, remain uncertain, but the intensity of the Green Party’s opposition signals a significant hurdle for its proponents within the Bundestag. The debate is likely to continue, forcing a reckoning within the governing coalition over its approach to security and its commitment to principles of inclusivity and legal due process.