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Danish Former Minister Seeks Lenient Probation for Citizenship Grants

Denmark Democrats' party leader, Inger Støjberg, advocates for a decade-long review period for citizenship post-naturalisation, enabling authorities to rescind citizenship if the newly-minted citizen commits a major crime during this span.

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Danish Democrats' party leader, Inger Støjberg, pushes for a ten-year probationary phase...
Danish Democrats' party leader, Inger Støjberg, pushes for a ten-year probationary phase post-naturalization, empowering authorities to potentially rescind granted citizenship if the newcomer perpetrates a grave offence during this span.

Danish Former Minister Seeks Lenient Probation for Citizenship Grants

Revoked in Ten Years: Inger Støjberg's Controversial Proposal for Danish Citizenship

Danish citizenship would be subject to a ten-year probationary period if lauded politician Inger Støjberg gets her way. This means newly naturalized citizens could risk losing their citizenship if they commit a serious crime during that time.

In a bold move, Støjberg, the leader of the Denmark Democrats, calls for this change on her party's Facebook page. According to her, if a crime is committed in the first ten years following naturalization and "would have stopped citizenship from being granted in the first place," the new citizen's citizenship will be revoked.

Under the existing Danish citizenship rules, those who receive criminal sentences (either conditional or unconditional) are ineligible for citizenship. Minor infractions such as fines can lead to a temporary ban on applying for citizenship for at least four and a half years.

Støjberg, who once found herself in hot water for issuing an illegal directive while serving as immigration minister and later served a 60-day prison sentence with an electronic ankle tag, would fail to meet the criteria for Danish citizenship under her own proposal.

Denmark has revoked citizenships under specific circumstances in the past, for instance in cases of lying on application forms or supporting terrorist groups. Although rare, these instances do occur.

Implementing Støjberg's proposal would require Denmark to withdraw from two international human rights conventions: the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the European Convention on Nationality. Støjberg argues that these conventions constrain Denmark in ways that prevent it from determining who may become a Danish citizen.

Other far-right parties, such as the Danish People's Party, have expressed support for leaving international human rights conventions in the past. Recently, both the Conservative and Liberal Alliance parties have also voiced their agreement, stating the conventions make it difficult to revoke citizenship from a convicted criminal.

However, the government is currently against leaving any conventions, as they believe they provide a solid foundation for a better global order. This complicates the Denmark Democrats' proposal, but the Social Democrats have previously indicated a willingness to consider "conditional citizenship," a stance similar to Støjberg's.

Breaking Down the Proposal:

Inger Støjberg's controversial proposal for conditional Danish citizenship comes with several implications:

  1. Security Enhancement: The policy would help ensure new citizens are fully integrated into Danish society and aren't involved in criminal activities, thereby increasing national security.
  2. Administrative and Legal Challenges: The proposal would require significant administrative resources to monitor and evaluate new citizens, and questions about its legality may arise, potentially leading to legal disputes.
  3. Social and Psychological Impact: Conditional citizenship might lead to uncertainty, insecurity, stigma, and discrimination among new citizens, affecting their integration into society.
  4. Economic Implications: Uncertainty about future citizenship status might deter new citizens from investing in education or starting businesses, negatively impacting Denmark's economic growth.
  5. Human Rights and Equality Concerns: The proposal raises concerns about the treatment and rights of new citizens, challenging the principle of equality between citizens and potentially breaching international human rights laws.

In conclusion, Støjberg's proposal for conditional Danish citizenship within the first ten years after naturalization carries complex implications in the areas of security, administration, society, economy, and human rights. This proposal reflects a larger debate on integration, security, and the rights of new citizens in Denmark.

  1. In the light of Inger Støjberg's proposal for conditional Danish citizenship, the news raises concerns about potential human rights breaches and the impact on social, psychological, and economic aspects for new citizens.
  2. With the Denmark Democrats' proposal to withdraw from international human rights conventions to implement conditional citizenship, the general news also highlights the political implications and the ongoing debate about national security, integration, and the rights of new citizens in Denmark.

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