A court in canton Aargau has overruled a decision by the cantonal parliament not to grant citizenship to an 18-year-old who had been caught for a small shoplifting offence when a minor.
The parliament voted 74 by 50 to reject the application. Broadly the right-wing parties voted against.
As a young teenager, the applicant was convicted of stealing a USB drive and a shirt – in total CHF 122.
The court ruled the decision was arbitrary and disproportionate and granted citizenship.
The canton will also have to pay the CHF 2,000 court cost.