Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I must firmly oppose this amendment. Extending the naturalization period from five to ten years is a misguided proposal that conveys the wrong signal. It is unnecessarily restrictive and does not address the issue it purports to solve. There is no evidence that extending the period of residence improves integration outcomes. On the contrary, it penalizes individuals who are already well integrated, who speak the language, work, and contribute to society. Prolonging their path to citizenship leaves them in a state of diminished rights for longer, which undermines their motivation to participate fully.

It is also fundamentally unjust that residents who have lived, worked, and paid taxes for years should be denied full civil rights, including the right to vote, for a decade. Altering the general legal framework so drastically in order to respond to isolated instances of abuse is disproportionate. The government should therefore withdraw this proposal and retain the five-year requirement.