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Austria Now News – Vienna
Herbert Kickl, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party FPÖ, on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to granting Austrian citizenship to people with asylum status, in a fresh escalation of the political debate over naturalisation rules in Austria.
No easing for migrants’ children
According to the newspaper Heute, Kickl described Austrian citizenship as “an asset deserving special protection”, arguing that rising naturalisation numbers call for stricter rules. He also rejected any automatic granting of citizenship to children of migrants born in Austria, stressing that this was out of the question for him.
Attack on the ÖVP and Chancellor Stocker
The FPÖ leader accused the People’s Party ÖVP of inconsistency on citizenship policy, pointing out that Chancellor Christian Stocker is now presenting the issue as an important priority, while his party has twice rejected FPÖ motions during the current legislative period to end the granting of citizenship to recognised refugees.
Kickl announced that his party would test at the next parliamentary opportunity whether the ÖVP will turn its statements into action, signalling the FPÖ’s intention to table a new motion on the matter.
Background to the debate
Kickl’s stance follows remarks by Chancellor Stocker on citizenship in recent days, which have brought naturalisation rules back to the forefront of political debate in Austria. The debate concerns a large number of residents of Arab origin who have been granted asylum and plan to apply for citizenship in the future. The FPÖ’s demands, however, remain political positions so far and not laws in force.
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Sources
- Heute – Kickl will sofortiges Einbürgerungs-Aus für Migranten – 03.11.2026 – heute.at
