At Scholz's Chancellery, CDU Head Merz advocates for a shift in immigration policy.
In the aftermath of the Solingen incident, Merz advocated for a blanket ban on accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan during a public debate. However, the federal government opposed this move, citing the constitutional protection of individual asylum rights as a potential legal gray area.
On a Sunday, Merz penned a letter to the Chancellor, "Hey Federal Chancellor, we're bound to cross paths this week anyway," he wrote. "I implore you to collaborate promptly and without delay, making strategic decisions to thwart any future terrorist attacks similar to the one that struck our nation last Friday."
Prior discussions on migration policy between Merz and Scholz yielded no concrete agreement in the past. Subsequently, Scholz proposed a "Germany Pact" to the Union in the Bundestag, focusing on streamlining bureaucracy, expediting planning, and enhancing migration policies in September 2023.
However, Merz voiced his frustration following a meeting with Scholz, as he saw little room for united action on the overhaul of migration policies. Ultimately, in November 2023, Merz declared a temporary halt to the collaborative talks on migration policy within the CDU.
The Commission was tasked with evaluating Merz's proposal for restricting refugee intake from Syria and Afghanistan in light of the federal government's opposition. Despite Merz's disagreement with Scholz's "Germany Pact", he acknowledged the necessity of working collaboratively with The Commission to ensure effective migration policies.
