In Germany, the number of citizens who did not renounce their previous citizenship upon naturalization has significantly increased
Thus, as "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, for the third consecutive year, the number of "new Germans" with dual citizenship is rising. According to statistics, in 2015 this figure was 54.2%, in 2016 – 57.8%, and last year – already 61.4%.
Understandably, the largest number of such citizens come from European Union countries – 99.1%. As noted in this regard by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, this option for EU citizens is provided for by law. According to the German Interior Ministry, this is done "with consideration for the equal treatment in Germany of all EU citizens, for the purpose of pan-European integration and unity of the EU population." Naturalization in such cases, according to officials, occurs quite quickly and simply, without serious bureaucratic delays.
The significant increase in the number of people with dual citizenship in 2017 is primarily due to the sharp influx of people from "Foggy Albion" into Germany who wish to obtain a German "ausweis." In one year, an increase of 21% was recorded here – to 6,652 people. Understandably, many British citizens with close ties to the Federal Republic are trying to "secure their rear" against the backdrop of "Brexit" – their homeland's exit from the structures of the European Union.
It is a completely different matter when it comes to obtaining German citizenship while retaining the old one by people from "third countries" not belonging to the EU. For example, in cases where it is practically impossible for various objective reasons to renounce previous citizenship. Thus, for people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, officials of German naturalization authorities make exceptions.
"Previous" citizenships, in bureaucratic language, are "tolerated," although this is not officially provided for by German law. The problem is that the German side in such cases, as noted by the Interior Ministry, "has no direct influence" on the decisions of the other side, since international law allows each state to independently decide on the issuance or deprivation of its citizenship.
Exceptions are also made for people from post-Soviet countries, for whom renunciation of a previous passport "presents an insurmountable difficulty." However, applicants must in such cases prove to German officials the "peculiarity of their private situation" during naturalization.
Meanwhile, the possession of multiple passports by German citizens is a very serious problem for many German politicians, related both to integration into society and to active participation in the life of the "previous homeland." First and foremost in this regard, people from Turkey are mentioned. Thus, last year almost 60% of Turks living in Germany who, in addition to a Turkish passport, also have an "ausweis" voted for the authoritarian policies of Recep Erdogan, which greatly alarmed the German authorities.
It is for this reason that representatives of the FDP have long demanded a complete ban on dual citizenship for people from certain countries, mainly referring to Turkey. "At least the third generation of migrants from this country should finally decide on their citizenship," notes the policy statement of the Free Democrats, adopted at the party congress in 2017.