Citizenship Reform?
For the newcomer Ozan Iyibas "a phantom discussion from both sides"
Created: 12/29/2022, 8:00 p.m
By: Andreas Beschorner
Ozan Iyibas is convinced "that we have done well with the previous practice" in matters of citizenship.
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In the FT interview, Neufahrn's third mayor, Ozan Iyibas, comments on the citizenship reform plans - and on statements from his own party.
Neufahrn
- Faster naturalization, the so-called right of residence, a reform of citizenship in general - that's what the traffic light government has written on the flags.
During a debate in the Bundestag, however, it became clear that the CDU/CSU (and AfD) would not go along with it that easily.
The Freisinger Tagblatt asked Ozan Iyibas about this – German of Turkish origin, 40 years old, CSU member, third mayor in Neufahrn since 2020.
And: Someone who sometimes speaks plain language.
The step planned by Nancy Faeser to reform citizenship law and thus remove the hurdles to naturalization is very controversial in the CSU as well as in the AfD. In your opinion, should naturalization be made easier?
First of all, I would like to mention that the whole thing is a phantom discussion from both political sides.
There are truly more important issues in our country than reforming citizenship law.
I think that we have done well with the practice so far and a relief will not represent any significant added value.
(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
As a German of Turkish origin, don't you feel offended by the choice of words by members of the Union in the current hour in the Bundestag at the beginning of December? Andrea Lindholz, vice-chairman of the Union parliamentary group, said that general dual citizenship would not strengthen our country, it would weaken it. And "In the end, integration should be rewarded with naturalization." Doesn't that sound cocky?
Unfortunately, the brutalization of political language and the negative style of language do not go unnoticed by my Union party either.
It would certainly be appropriate if the individual political actors did not have the headline in their head, which is then printed the next day, but the goal of getting a good result for all sides.
And yes, I do not understand these generalizations and also feel uncomfortable when such statements come from my party.
What do you say to the statement by numerous Union politicians that citizenship is being sold at a price?
The fact is that the election campaign has started for all sides and now all political sides are trying to get the best headline.
In my opinion, such statements should be avoided in the future.
But of course, as a German citizen of Turkish origin who was naturalized in 1991, I see it that we give people with a migration background citizenship in an orderly process.
Faeser sees it as a great opportunity to strengthen social cohesion in Germany. Don't you fear a missed opportunity if you don't agree to it now?
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Many people who are in Germany have already decided to go through the process of becoming a German citizen.
I don't think that easier citizenship is causally related to social cohesion.
A passport alone certainly does not express affiliation to a country.
Rather, we need to think about how the gap between natives and immigrants does not widen.
Other aspects are important and not citizenship.
Isn't it essential to counteract the labor shortage?
A law on the immigration of skilled workers is certainly the better way, who can then go through the process of citizenship after successful integration.
What does your family say about this debate?
My family says in no uncertain terms that anyone who integrates, internalizes free democratic values, accepts the German system of values and serves society can go through the process – like my parents did in 1991. Incidentally, we were friends back then too decided to only get German citizenship and give up Turkish citizenship.
And what do your CSU colleagues at the municipal level say about this?
Opinions are mixed there.
However, this is not necessarily a topic that is discussed at the regulars' table.
The Ukraine war, inflation and the energy crisis are currently on the agenda.