CDU defies Merkel with hardline dual nationality vote

[FarCenter]

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) voted on Wednesday to oblige German-born children of foreigners to decide whether to take German nationality or that of their parents by the age of 23.

The vote rejects dual-nationality reforms introduced by the ruling left-right coalition in 2014.

In what was a close contest, 319 CDU lawmakers voted in favor of scrapping the dual-nationality reforms, while 300 voted against them.

The move signals that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party is lurching further to the right. Party hardliners are seeking to mend relations with the CDU's Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has adopted a tougher stance on immigration. The CDU is also seeking to woo back supporters lost to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD).

http://www.dw.com/en/cdu-defies-merkel-with-hardline-dual-nationality-vote/a-36684868