Germany’s CDU drafts tougher citizenship rules to counter AfD

Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his party, the CDU, are set to fundamentally overhaul the country’s citizenship laws in a bid to counter Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Senior figures in the CDU (Christian Democrats) are debating a ban on dual citizenship and the tightening of language requirements to retain their own voters who are turning towards the AfD.

In an interview with The Telegraph newspaper, senior CDU lawmaker Gunter Krings argued that previous governments had made the process of acquiring German citizenship “too fast and too easy”:

“Naturalisation should be seen as the final stage of integration into our workforce, our society, and the constitutional order. We cannot accept people wanting to become German citizens whilst living in a parallel society.”

Under the proposals, those seeking to become German citizens would have to pass a more demanding language proficiency examination demonstrating that they can discuss highly complex subjects, rather than a simple “B1” level test of everyday spoken German.

They will also be required to renounce the citizenship of their home countries, prove complete financial independence, and renounce “all forms of anti-Semitism”.

Krings spoke to The Telegraph ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt elections, in which the CDU suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the AfD.

Krings, a deputy leader of the CDU parliamentary group in the German parliament, the Bundestag, pointed to the new citizenship laws as one way to achieve this goal.

These reforms would make financial independence and fluent spoken German mandatory for those applying for citizenship after five years of residence in Germany.

Krings said:

“One of these areas is definitely language skills. Currently, we only require the B1 level, which allows you to participate in only very simple conversations. But if you truly want to participate in the political process, as we expect of German citizens, you need to know German better; therefore, the B1 level is not enough.”

Arguing that the current system, which allows migrants to acquire German citizenship even if they receive social assistance, is “not fair to German taxpayers”, the CDU politician said: “Under current rules, it is sufficient to cover most of your livelihood [from your own income]; therefore, according to many court decisions, 51% is considered enough, but I do not think this is right.”

Krings argued that if nearly half of a person’s income comes from the German welfare state, “this cannot be proof of economic integration when applying for citizenship.”

Another key element of the reform would be the repeal of the legislation enacted in 2024 by the previous government, led by Olaf Scholz, which permitted dual citizenship in Germany.

Speaking on this matter, Krings said:

“I think the rule should be: when you receive German citizenship, you must give up your previous citizenship. If you move from one country to another and plan to live here permanently, I do not understand why keeping the citizenship of your former country should be so important to you.”

Krings argued that the lax citizenship requirements in Germany were primarily a result of reforms carried out by the Scholz government.

However, he also cited decisions taken by previous CDU leaders, such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Speculation is mounting that Merz could be forced to step down from the chancellorship as he struggles to quell discontent within his own party and from his coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD).

The citizenship reforms will require the approval of the SPD, which has previously sought to soften some of the CDU’s core policies.

The SPD is losing support not only to the AfD, but also to Die Linke (The Left Party) and the BSW.

In addition to losing the upcoming elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where it is in power, the CDU is also expected to lose the state elections to be held later this month in Berlin and in another eastern state, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Hendrik Wust, a regional CDU leader who has been compared to Andy Burnham, is widely discussed in CDU circles as a potential successor.

Wust, for his part, sought to damp down these rumours throughout the summer by publicly backing Merz.