Germany: Government and opposition fail to agree on stricter rules for illegal migrants

(Patria) - The German government and representatives of the Christian democratic opposition failed to agree yesterday on stricter rules to prevent irregular migration.

- The federal government is clearly hopelessly divided and cannot agree on effective measures: the coalition of social democrats, greens, and liberals has capitulated to the challenges of irregular migration - stated the president of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, after the meeting.

The main point of contention is the demand of the Christian Democratic Union CDU/CSU to reject at the German border those who entered the European Union through another member state. The federal government rejects this, claiming it is not possible under current EU laws.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had previously presented the federal government's proposal, which provides for the return of those found to be already registered in an EU country.

During the verification process, refugees would stay in temporary accommodation in Germany, which the CDU/CSU Union rejects, believing it would not change the current situation and the pressure on municipalities responsible for refugees.

- This does not contribute to an increase in the number of those returning from the German border - said the head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's office, Thorsten Frei, who participated in the negotiations.

The Interior Minister of the federal state of Hesse, Roman Poseck, who also participated in the talks, says the government is not interested in a real turnaround in immigration policy and that continuing discussions with the government on this topic in this format makes no sense.

Government representatives who participated in the talks expressed regret over the Union's withdrawal from the dialogue.

- We are ready to continue talks at any time, but a government cannot be expected to break the law - said Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).

Interior Minister Faeser also pointed out that automatic deterrence of refugees at the borders would constitute a violation of European law.

Austria had previously signaled that it would not allow Germany to simply return refugees to its territory.

- Austria will not accept individuals whom Germany rejects at its borders. There is no room for negotiation on this - said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner in an interview with German media.

The German government, as well as established parties like the CDU/CSU Union, are under pressure, especially after the significant success of far-right and far-left parties.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) achieved great success in the recent elections in the states of Saxony and Thuringia with their platforms, which largely rely on drastically limiting migration.

Public pressure on the government to change its immigration policies has also increased due to several fatal attacks in which the perpetrators were migrants from Afghanistan and Syria.

Last week, the German government presented measures that are expected to significantly reduce the number of irregular border crossings.

Among other things, it is planned that refugees who are proven to be already registered in an EU country will be completely denied financial assistance in Germany.

Last week, for the first time since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, the government deported about thirty offenders to that country.

German media estimate that the government wants to demonstrate effectiveness in fulfilling its promises to reduce irregular migration before the elections in the federal state of Brandenburg on September 22.