It's a tough year for Germany, and hoards of challenges ahead. Starting from the big financial hurdles coming in the way of promoting clean energy drive from renewables to US spying menace, Merkel's anger on the leaked call of a US official insulting the EU's role in mediating in the Ukraine's crises. As though the current muddle was not enough that a fresh political debate on 'dual citizenship' has ignited.

Was it just a propaganda, something called 'vote bank politics' issued at the time of election campaign last year or was it a genuine promise which unfortunately met troubled waters in the sea of coalition?? Different questions, many opinions yet no concrete solution.

Amid the course of the would be law, there is rising frustration among the immigrants mingled up with the increased workload, their extra effort for integration and no sure shot guarantee that their sweat be met with any additional benefit by the government..... seems not only unfair but too bureaucratic as well. This comes with the decision taken by Merkel's new government regarding the introduction of 'dual citizenship' for children born to immigrants in Germany. Instead of meeting with cheers the announcement seems to have created quite a furore in different quarters. It has led to unprecedented debate on the topic of integration between SPD and the conservatives.

The Interior Ministry led by Thomas de Maiziere' ( member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union) has come up with the first draft of the law. According to it, “ to be eligible for dual citizenship, children of immigrants must have lived in Germany for a minimum of 12 years and should have spent a sizeable portion of their teenage in Germany. Young Adults holding a diploma from a German High School would also qualify for the same.” However, in the coalition agreement, it filters down the youth to strictly those 'born and brought' up in Germany. Now that is really amusing. How could a draft have two versions? I hope those in power know the meaning of the term 'transparency'.

Turkish community being the biggest migrant group has serious doubts on the credibility of such a bizarre mandate which reads different at different levels should the govt begin examining the education history of their children before giving a nod to dual citizenship. Not just the dilemma it carries for the immigrants, it also hits back hard on SPD's call for integration. During last year's election campaign SPD had voiced hard in letting immigrants retain their old citizenships even when they acquired a German pass. Was it a false promise to temporarily appease the immigrants and secure their votes?

The difference of opinion between SPD and the conservatives have split the two in arguments, and created further confusion. The coalition negotiations with the conservatives have resulted in limiting the law to only those children of immigrants born in Germany. Off course, the SPD too has its hands tied up due to the coalition nature of governance. The conservatives have propounded the criteria for granting dual citizenship. “Schooling” in the words of CDU domestic affairs expert Wolfgang Bosbach, “is a way of showing successful integration into German life” He continues, “ Proof of regular school attendance is also easy to present through certificates, for example.” In short, the government's stance is clear and straightforward, dual citizenship without regular checks is impossible despite the SPD's repeated attempts that citizenship should not come with conditions too hard to be met.

Whatever the outcome, the present mess has only created a sense of anxiety and uncertainty among those who are about to turn 23, and may miss out on the advantage of dual citizenship if at all such a law gets approved in near future.

Sometimes, delayed is as good as denied, ironically!