According to the SPD, the law should offer a perspective to well-integrated foreigners. The Union sees this as an “amnesty law” for de facto deportees.
Before the vote on the so-called right to sit in the Bundestag, the SPD defended the bill against criticism from the opposition. “In this way, we put an end to the mistrust of many tolerant people who falter from one tolerance to the next and open perspectives for them,” Sebastian Hartmann, spokesperson for the domestic policy of the SPD’s parliamentary group, told newspapers affiliated with the Funke media group. (Friday).
With the Right to Opportunity Residence, the Federal Government “provides pragmatic solutions for thousands of people in Germany who have been part of our society for a long time”. This is important for affected people as well as for many employers who have hitherto only tolerated employees, for example in the craft or care sector.
“This is a win-win situation for all parties, those affected and society as a whole, and marks the beginning of an urgently needed paradigm shift in Germany,” said Hartmann.
Law to ensure long-term residence
According to the red-green-yellow federal government’s plans, the right of residence should offer a perspective to well-integrated foreigners who have been living in Germany for several years without a secure status. As of 31 October 2022, anyone who has lived in the country for five years and has not committed a crime should be given 18 months to meet the long-term residence requirements – this includes knowledge of German and self-support.
Hartmann supported the postponement of the relevant deadline from January 1 to October 31, 2022. “This increases the number of tolerated persons who can benefit from residency opportunities and gives them ample time to present the necessary evidence, above all their identity and ability to make a living.” SPD politician.
Union harshly criticizes “possible right of residence”
The plan is rejected by the Union. CDU Secretary-General Mario Czaja said on Thursday that the right to reside in the “Welt” is “an amnesty for persons who do not legally reside in the country and are de facto subject to deportation”.
The local spokesperson for the Union faction, Alexander Throm (CDU), is also critical of the new arrangement. He told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that the government’s plans would create false privileges. “The German labor market is already wide open to those who need to leave the country. Thousands of people who have to leave the country before and who work here and are well integrated have a long-term right of residence,” Throm said.
“There is one major exception to this: those who have had to leave the country, whose identities have not been revealed because they would otherwise face deportation.”
Source: ZDF
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