BERLIN: The German parliament on Wednesday repealed a fast-track citizenship law introduced by the previous government, highlighting the souring public mood toward immigration in the country.
The measure made it possible to apply for German citizenship after three years, rather than the usual five, for those who could show they had integrated particularly well.
It was introduced by the previous government, led by the center-left SPD party, who argued it would attract more overseas workers to plug labor shortages in many industries.
But Friedrich Merz — from the center-right CDU, who took power in May — had pledged on the campaign trail to overturn the law as part of efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
Ahead of the vote in parliament, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that the government was sending a “clear signal.”
“The German passport will be available as recognition of successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration,” he said.
Merz’s coalition has taken a hard line on immigration, seeking to combat the growing popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany, which came second in February’s general election.
Attitudes toward migration have hardened in recent years in Germany, particularly in areas where critics argue they have placed strains on public services.
A total of 450 lawmakers voted to repeal the law — including those from the SPD and AfD — while 134 voted against the measure.
The SPD, junior partners in Merz’s coalition, defended supporting repealing the fast-track program, arguing it was rarely used.
The new government has however left in place other key aspects of the previous coalition’s immigration reforms.
This includes lowering the number of years before a migrant can apply for German citizenship to five, from eight previously, and allowing dual citizenship in most cases.
Germany repeals fast-track citizenship law
https://arab.news/nrhkq
Germany repeals fast-track citizenship law
- Dobrindt said that the government was sending a “clear signal“
- “The German passport will be available as recognition of successful integration and not as an incentive for illegal migration”
Turkiye seeks to host next COP as co-presidency plans falter
- Australia and Turkiye are locked in a stalemate over who should host COP31 in 2026
- Brazil has appointed a representative to help resolve the disagreement between the two countries
ISTANBUL: Turkiye wants to host next year’s UN climate change talks and is ready to organize the event alone if there is no agreement on sharing the event, a Turkish diplomatic source told AFP Sunday.
Australia and Turkiye are locked in a stalemate over who should host the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in 2026.
The host is selected by consensus, so unless Australia or Turkiye withdraws or the countries agree to share the conference, both will miss out. A decision should be made at the current COP conference in Belem, Brazil.
If no consensus is reached, the summit would revert to Bonn, the German city that hosts the UN’s climate secretariat.
The Turkish source said discussions with Australia at the UN General Assembly’s annual meetings in September yielded initial proposals for joint management of the event and shared high-level meetings.
But a letter from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the agreements, citing UN rules against joint hosting and concerns about diverting COP’s Pacific-focused agenda, the source said.
Ankara supports developing flexible arrangements through good-faith consultations to ensure the success of COP31, the source said.
“Turkiye continues to advocate a co-presidency model as a step to strengthen multilateralism but is prepared to host the conference independently if consensus cannot be reached,” the source told AFP. Erdogan underlined this position in his response to the Australian prime minister, the source added.
-’Inclusiveness’-
Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended a summit in Brazil on November 6-7 to start COP30, but Erdogan and Albanese were not among them.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz attended the summit, while Australia was represented by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
Brazil has appointed a representative to help resolve the disagreement between Australia and Turkiye, but diplomats say that no progress has been made yet toward reaching an agreement before COP30 wraps up on November 21.
Turkiye wants COP31 to focus on the world’s most vulnerable regions, with potential special sessions addressing Pacific issues, the source added.
The Turkish candidacy is framed as a call for global solidarity and constructive dialogue in climate action.
“Turkiye will continue to act on the principles of cooperation and inclusiveness rather than competition in combating climate change,” the source said, adding that it invites all parties to advance the process on the basis of “constructive dialogue and mutual respect.”
