Germany's Top Court to Decide on Immigration Law

Germany’s highest court is expected to release on Wednesday its verdict on the country’s first-ever immigration law, which was approved by the upper legislative chamber in March with the help of political manuevering that was later called into question by the conservative opposition.

The law, introduced by the governing coalition formed by the Social Democrats and the Greens, is aimed at simplifying regulations governing residency permits thereby making it easier for foreigners to live and work in Germany.

The law also lays out measures for helping foreigners fit into German society, ranging from language to citizenship courses. It is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2003, if upheld by the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe.

The dispute over the law stems from a March decision by the Bundesrat, which represents the states on national matters and thus considers various issues addressed by the national parliament. The eastern state of Brandenburg had a split vote on the issue, with state Labor Minister Alwin Ziel, a Social Democrat, voting yes, and Interior Minister Jörg Schönbohm, a Christian Democrat, voting no.

Germany’s constitution requires a state to cast a unanimous vote. At the time, Bundesrat President Klaus Wowereit, a Social Democrat who is governing mayor of Berlin, turned to Brandenburg’s Social Democratic premier, Manfred Stolpe, to decide. And Stolpe voted yes.

Members of the Christian Democrats immediately refused to accept the ruling. And in July, six states government by the opposition party asked the high court to examine the issue.

Already about 7 million foreigners live in Germany, representing about 9 percent of the population. With more than 4 million Germans unemployed, the opposition claims it’s no time to be making overtures to new foreign workers.

Law backers, however, say there are an estimated 1.5 million jobs in Germany that Germans can’t or won’t take, thereby making it urgent to open the job market to outsiders.