Dobrindt accuses Berlin of “turbo naturalization”: Now the Senate is fighting back

The controversy over Berlin's naturalization process continues. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) is attempting to defuse the criticism of Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) . Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD), however, is going on the offensive, vehemently defending the exclusively digital process that has been in place since the beginning of the year.

Interior Minister Dobrindt has accused the Berlin State Office for Immigration (LEA) of taking the wrong approach to naturalization and criticized the fact that migrants can only submit their applications for naturalization digitally. "Naturalization also requires that the applicant commits to the free democratic basic order and declares that they do not pursue anti-constitutional activities," said the CSU politician. "I can hardly imagine that this will work without a personal appearance."

Naturalizations: Criticism of Berlin's "Turbo Naturalization"

The criticism was also prompted by information from the LEA, according to which employees were expected to double the number of naturalizations this year to 40,000. "The accuracy of the examination can be the only yardstick here, not a supposed quota achievement," said Dobrindt. Union politicians also criticized the "turbo naturalization" process, pointing out that the Bundestag intends to abolish it this fall. The fact that this process is now being accelerated in Berlin undermines current legislation, they said. This is unacceptable.

The Berliner Zeitung asked the responsible Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger, for more information. Her response was sharp: "I firmly reject the Federal Minister of the Interior's criticism." The Senate's Interior Administration has not set any guidelines on how many naturalizations should be carried out.

The SPD politician also refers to the coalition agreement between the conservative-red Senate. It states: "A secure right of residence is an important prerequisite for participation. The coalition considers skilled immigration to be important and is committed to accelerating and simplifying the procedures."

Naturalization in Berlin: Senator Spranger defends digitalization

Spranger also pointed out that thousands of citizens of different nationalities and professions in Berlin have been waiting for their naturalization "for years." At the beginning of the year, the LEA took over approximately 40,000 open naturalization procedures from the districts, and since then, tens of thousands of digital naturalization applications have been submitted.

In fact, those seeking naturalization are actually speaking up, as all applicants have already presented themselves to the immigration authorities. Unlike in naturalization authorities in other federal states, however, applicants in Berlin no longer have to request a consultation before submitting an application. They have achieved what they hope for many Berlin authorities: "The LEA handles the data, not the citizens."

Senator on naturalizations in Berlin: "Thorough examinations"

The applications and documents are processed automatically. After a review, applicants are invited to an appointment to submit the required declaration of faith and to naturalize. "This will, of course, only be granted if, after a thorough review, they are entitled to naturalization," the senator said.

At this appointment, identity will be verified again, and the person will be "ceremoniously required to make a credible declaration," according to Spranger. This includes a commitment to the free democratic basic order and a declaration that they "do not support or have not supported any efforts that conflict with this declaration." Furthermore, the person must make a written commitment to "Germany's special responsibility for the National Socialist unjust regime and its consequences, particularly for the protection of Jewish life, as well as to the peaceful coexistence of nations and the prohibition of waging wars of aggression."

Naturalizations: Is a “credible confession” sufficient?

If "actual evidence justifies the assumption" that the confession is implausible, naturalization will not be granted, Spranger said. Even if such evidence is concealed and only becomes known subsequently, the LEA will revoke naturalization, confiscate the passport, and initiate criminal proceedings.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Wegner also refuses to hear of a "target," as he said in an interview with the Berliner Zeitung. "I don't know of any target for 40,000 naturalizations."

Naturalizations: Kai Wegner blames previous Senates

Wegner also has little use for the term "turbo naturalization." After all, the previous Senates, led by the red-green-red coalition, failed to ensure a functioning mechanism for naturalization. The result is a backlog of applications that has grown over the years and that the authorities have been unable to manage. This backlog is now being cleared, Wegner says.

Meanwhile, in Berlin's neighboring state of Brandenburg, there is continued anger over the decision by the Potsdam Interior Ministry to make a commitment to Israel's right to exist a condition for naturalization. The BSW parliamentary group expressed its continued "irritation and anger" over the introduction by Interior Minister René Wilke (independent, SPD) apparently without the involvement of the BSW. It was "uninstinctive because such a regulation was introduced precisely in the current situation, i.e., against the backdrop of the genocide in Gaza committed by the current right-wing radical government of Israel," said BSW leader and parliamentary group leader Niels-Olaf Lüders.