Fritsen

  A good thing the FDP got the Ministry of Transport then! Free market solutions for rail and public transport always gets it done.

  Lolll.

  You can tell you're an EU national who has never had to try to get visas in EU countries. Without question, Germany (and specifically Berlin) is the easiest country in Europe for non-EU nationals to get work permits, even with a total lack of hard skills. I cannot count the number of people I've met here who snuck in through freelance and artist visas, worked under the table in professions outside their visa's scope in the first three years, and then switched over to an unlimited visa. Try doing that in Ireland, France, Netherlands, etc. There's a reason Berlin is such a hotspot for non-EU nationals, and it's not because it's easy to find housing. It's easy af to get a visa (or was when I got mine and no checks at all were done, and I got three years in 30 minutes flat). That does not happen in other EU countries.

Somewhat interesting, I wonder how many people just want an EU passport so they can move and live elsewhere in the EU? In Berlin at least, I know quite a few people in that camp. I'll probably head to Amsterdam or Lisbon for a bit after picking up the German passport, tbh.

  For those who have been explicitly denied the opportunity to acquire German citizenship under threat of having to renounce their previous citizenship, I wonder how many identify with CDU. Especially those of non-white backgrounds. The CDU is about to go soul-searching, and it's probably not going to end up in a very nice place, considering factions of it were already courting the voters it had lost to the AfD.

  I don't understand how that's not a requirement already, tbh.

  I would imagine it would be quite a vote-getter for the coalition parties. Not enough to swing a national election or anything, but cities where there are a lot of migrants who can take up dual citizenship after 5 years (or even 3 years!!!) could make an impact on local elections. This in addition to lowering the voting age to 16 probably doesn't do the CDU any favours in future elections.

Very exciting stuff, indeed! I wonder what criteria will be for the 3-year naturalisation? I've already been here for 5, so I'll just apply the normal route, but citizenship after 3 years is incredibly progressive.

The new coalition has agreed dual citizenship will be allowed and the naturalisation period reduced to 5 years. I'm eligible to apply as soon as the law passes. Woot!

I can assure you not all locals are well versed in their own country's history and politics, yet they're entitled to vote all the same. Therefore it's absurd to bar naturalised citizens under the assumption that they might not know the history and politics, when it's quite obvious many locals don't have a clue, either. 

And if you're that paranoid about foreigners pretending to be German, there are already examples in other countries where restrictions are in place for dual nationals, see: Australia's legislation regarding elected political officials and dual nationality.    If you're really terrified that someone might have 'dual loyalties', then place limits on those professions where it could be a *potential* issue, i.e. politics, military, intelligence services, etc., and don't burden average people with your paranoia. 

Imagine having a world view that is so paranoid that dual nationality as a concept cannot even be considered in case countries go to war en masse and begin drafting private citizens into said war ... and those citizens cannot be trusted. Like, sorry, that is a super warped mindset. 

  Do you hear yourself? Yikes. I don't feel loyalty to any state. Wtf does that even mean? It's a very old-fashioned world view, IMO. For 99.99999999999% of people, there will never be a 'conflict of loyalties'. I can see this being an issue when it comes to politicians, military, BND, etc., but ... for the average person there is never going to be any 'conflict of interest' that negatively affects any of the states that issued the passports.     

  Lord ...

I guess pray for a SPD/Green/something coalition then! Even if it takes a couple of years to get anything passed, that'd be about the time I'd be eligible, and I just don't want to give up my current passport.