BERLIN: The German parliament on Wednesday repealed a fast-track citizenship law introduced by the previous government, highlighting the souring public mood toward immigration in the country.
The measure made it possible to apply for German citizenship after three years, rather than the usual five, for those who could show they had integrated particularly well.
It was introduced by the previous government, led by the center-left SPD party, who argued it would attract more overseas workers to plug labor shortages in many industries.
But Friedrich Merz — from the center-right CDU, who took power in May — had pledged on the campaign trail to overturn the law as part of efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
Ahead of the vote in parliament, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that the government was sending a “clear signal.”
