Berlin—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged German-Turkish voters to back his Social Democratic Party (SPD) in upcoming snap elections, reaffirming his support for immigrants’ rights and the new dual citizenship law.
“Germany is a country of immigration—one in four people here has an immigration background,” Scholz emphasized in a social media video. He underscored the importance of inclusivity, stating that those who live, work, integrate well, and speak the language “belong to our country and should have a voice in our democracy.”
Scholz criticized his rival, Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, for pledging to overturn Germany’s new citizenship law, which took effect in June 2024. The law simplifies the naturalization process and permits dual citizenship, a landmark change for Germany’s immigrant communities, particularly the 3.5 million-strong Turkish diaspora.
Merz’s proposal to revoke dual citizenship threatens to undo progress, Scholz warned, adding, “We must not create divisions between long-time residents and newcomers. Unity, not division, is our way.”
The law has been particularly transformative for the Turkish community, which previously had to renounce their original nationality to acquire German citizenship. Nearly half of German Turks already hold citizenship, and many traditionally support Scholz’s SPD or the Greens.
The chancellor’s outreach reflects the growing influence of immigrant communities in shaping Germany’s political landscape and underscores his commitment to maintaining progressive policies on immigration and integration.
