Amid rising cases of knife attacks, the prime minister of the German federal state of Bavaria, chairman of the opposition party Christian Social Union (CSU) Markus Söder, called on the German government to radically change the migration policy.
"The migration problem is now becoming insurmountable for Germany. We are overwhelmed not only logistically and technically, but also in the field of security and culture. In a number of areas of large German cities, many citizens no longer feel at home, Söder said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. He noted that a comprehensive package of measures is needed that will effectively limit illegal immigration and ease the burden on federal provinces and municipalities.
„This cannot go on like this. These include major reform of asylum laws, repatriation agreements with countries of origin and expansion of the list of safe countries of origin. The German government refuses all this for the time being,”, said the Bavarian Prime Minister. The new package of measures to combat illegal migration agreed by the German government, he says, contains the right approaches, but in general still falls short.
„We need fundamental changes in the field of migration. We need to change the asylum law, it is no longer relevant. We must be able to refuse at the German border all those who clearly do not have the right to protection, for example if they come from a safe third country,”, Söder argued, adding that the practice of deportation must also change. The politician expressed doubt that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is seriously ready to discuss this issue with the opposition.
Decisions of the "Traffic light" coalition. (SPD, Greens, FDP) according to him are only the first step, but they are far from enough. According to him, it would be possible, among other things, to agree with Syria and Afghanistan on the return of their citizens, which would have a great effect.
On August 29, the German government, in the wake of the terrorist attack in Solingen, agreed on a new package of measures to fight illegal migration and potentially dangerous Islamists, as well as tightening rules on purchase, storage and carrying of weapons. The measures include, in particular, a reduction in aid for migrants who have arrived in Germany after having previously registered in other European countries, if the latter agree to take them back. Specifically, according to the newspaper Bild, such refugees will receive only the most necessary - food, a place to sleep, hygiene items. They will not be provided with cash or a payment card.