In 2017, voters gave the green light to easier naturalization for the third generation of foreigners. Clearly, with 60 percent agreement. Since 2108, people of the third generation have been able to obtain the red passport more easily. Yet relatively few use it. Of the approximately 25,000 people affected, only about 800 use it each year.
At the current rate, “it will take more than 30 years for 3G to become commonplace in our country in a simple way,” warns the State Political Committee of the National Council. With an initiative she therefore pleaded for the removal of existing obstacles to ‘really’ facilitate naturalization.
With 117 votes in favor and 73 against, with four abstentions, the National Council approved the initiative on Tuesday. Previously, GLP Councilor Corina Gredig (35, ZH) campaigned to bring the naturalization process for the third generation closer to the reality of life and thus enable more people to obtain the red passport.
Today’s hurdles are relatively high
In fact, today’s hurdles also make the simplified procedure more difficult. For example, a birth in Switzerland is required, as is attendance of compulsory education in Switzerland for at least five years.
Difficulties, however, are that the third generation also has to prove the right of residence and the duration of residence of their parents and grandparents. In addition, they must submit the application for naturalization before the age of 25.
“Many well-integrated members of the third generation cannot meet the cumulatively required requirements,” the responsible committee states in its report. Access conditions should therefore be “less restrictive and unnecessary administrative hurdles should be removed as far as possible”.
SVP and center against
SVP country councilor Barbara Steinemann (46, ZH) defended herself in vain against the advance. “Our passport has never been easier to obtain than it is now,” she said. She was annoyed that “certain migrant lobby groups” now believed they had discovered weaknesses in the process.
There are also foreigners who would meet the requirements but still did not want the red passport. For Steinemann it is clear: “There is also a right not to be naturalized.”
In any case, Switzerland should not be accused of anything, the naturalization requirements are already low today. The SVP National Council sees no reason to “change the rules of the game again after such a short time” after the 2017 vote.
In addition to the SVP, the center also opposed the advance. FDP, SP, GLP and Greens were in favour. The initiative now goes to the Council of States.