Overview
- The Integration Ministry in Mainz confirms a certificate can be waived if an in-person interview convinces the authority that German skills are obviously sufficient.
- CDU and CSU leaders condemn the practice as inviting administrative arbitrariness and insist the federal citizenship law be applied uniformly across all 16 states.
- The issue has become a campaign flashpoint in Rhineland-Palatinate weeks before the March 22 state election, with challenger Gordon Schnieder calling the policy unacceptable.
- By contrast, Baden-Württemberg requires recognized language certificates and says it additionally verifies applicants' proficiency in a personal interview.
- Critics cite recent cases of forged language certificates and a migration researcher warns subjective assessments could erode trust and push employers to demand extra tests.