Cantonal Council SO Stricter language requirements for naturalization in Solothurn

Anyone wishing to be naturalized in the canton of Solothurn will have to meet stricter requirements for oral German language skills. On Tuesday, the cantonal council adopted a corresponding motion by the SVP parliamentary group.

With 60 yes to 37 no votes, the cantonal parliament declared the request to be substantial. The SVP cantonal councillors had originally demanded level B2 written and B1 oral, but then dropped the demand for better written German language skills.

The canton of Solothurn currently requires applicants for naturalization to achieve language level B1 oral and A2 written. This is in line with federal requirements, said Angela Petiti (SP) on behalf of the Justice Commission, which rejected the SVP proposal, as did the government.

Also difficult for locals

It was pointed out in various votes that even some Swiss people had difficulty meeting the stricter requirements. These correspond to the level required for a foreign language Matura. "Should we expatriate them?" asked Heinz Flück (Greens).

Mathias Stricker (SP) said that less educated people in the low-wage sector would have little chance of being naturalized with the stricter requirements. The level required today was sufficient.

"The aim should be to work together, not side by side," said Jennifer Rohr (SVP). Good oral language skills are therefore important. A lack of education does not mean that you are linguistically untalented. She herself had been described as untalented by her French and English teachers up until her A-levels, but had still managed to become an English teacher thanks to language courses.

Role model Thurgau, Schwyz, Nidwalden and Aargau

Johanna Bartholdi (FDP) said that higher requirements are legitimate and already exist in the cantons of Thurgau, Schwyz, Nidwalden and soon also in Aargau. Poor language skills are also a sign of a lack of integration.

The majority of the cantonal council was also not convinced by the arguments of cantonal councillor Brigit Wyss that the existing requirements had proved their worth and Daniel Urech (Greens) that the Association of Solothurn Residents' Communes (VSEG) was against stricter requirements.