The incoming Christian Democratic Union (CDU) government has vowed to keep Germany’s dual and fast-track citizenship law if it enters a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

CDU vows to keep German dual citizenship law

Germany’s CDU and SPD parties have published an 11-page “exploratory paper” in which they pledge to retain the country’s dual and fast-track citizenship law. Following the CDU federal election win on February 23, the centre-right party has been in discussions with SPD representatives about forming a coalition government.

Since June 2024, foreign residents living in Germany for at least five years have been eligible for German dual citizenship with their country of origin. In cases of “exceptional integration” some residents can apply for a German passport after three years.

The law was introduced by the SPD-FDP-Greens coalition government and in their opposition role, the CDU claimed dual citizenship “cheapened” the German passport and vowed to scrap the reform if they won the 2025 election.

Working with the SPD to form a coalition has forced a CDU manifesto u-turn. “We remain committed to the citizenship reform,” the CDU / SPD exploratory paper read. But other, previous citizenship-related CDU pledges have stuck. The parties said they would “examine under constitutional law whether we can withdraw German citizenship from terror supporters, antisemites and extremists who call for the abolition of the free and democratic basic order if they have another nationality”. 

The two parties are expected to enter official coalition negotiations by March 13, with chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz having promised that a government will be formed by Easter.

What else is promised in the “exploratory paper”?

The exploratory paper pledges other changes to migration policy, too. If all goes to plan in coalition talks, German police will have further power to turn asylum seekers away at the German border, though details of this plan and whether it complies with EU asylum law are still hazy. The government will also remove compulsory legal representation for potential deportees.

In work-related plans, the national minimum wage will increase to 15 euros per hour from 2026, there will be a new tax break for those who work past retirement age, employees will have the option to work according to maximum weekly hours rather than daily hours, and the rules around Bürgergeld will get stricter.

Middle-income earners should benefit from reforms to taxation, and a “purchase incentive” for buying electric vehicles will be introduced. Also, VAT on restaurant purchases will return to the standard during coronavirus, down from 19 percent to 7 percent.

Among other policies, the incoming government is also planning to scrap the controversial debt break, which limits new borrowing to 0,35 percent of GDP, and create an “infrastructure boost” fund to the tune of 500 billion euros.

Thumb image credit: i-am-helen / Shutterstock.com