Germany to control spending of asylum seekers

(Patria) - Germany yesterday paved the way for the introduction of a special debit card that limits how and where asylum seekers can spend the money they receive, marking a shift towards stricter migration policies.

Three parliamentary groups of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government have reached an agreement on a draft law that will go to a vote in the lower house of parliament, with the Greens supporting the draft after months of negotiations.

German federal states, some of which have independently introduced such spending cards, have advocated for a law at the national level.

The card, designed to control the funds of asylum seekers and prevent the transfer of money abroad, has long been discussed as a way to reduce cash payments, which coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP) believe motivate migrants to come to Germany.

Chancellor Scholz and his Social Democrats (SPD) are trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers to decrease voter support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).