Merz urges Ampel to drastically alter asylum approach – low faith prior to encounter
"Alright, no need for any more meetings or debates," declared Merz. The migration crisis can only be resolved by consistently denying entry to migrants seeking asylum at Germany's borders. This is a firm position for the CDU, and they won't back down an inch.
Unless the coalition gives in on this matter, there won't be any migration agreement, Merz stated. "Then, it's all on the federal government to deal with the consequences for our country."
Merz wasn't too hopeful about the upcoming talks with the coalition. The CDU is entering the Tuesday meeting "with not much optimism," he said, referring to statements from coalition representatives. Merz pointed out, "It seems the current federal chancellor is content with single-digit results in Thuringia and Saxony." The CDU intends to send interior experts Thorsten Frei (CDU) and Andrea Lindholz (CSU) to the talks.
At a joint press conference with Merz, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) mentioned that dissatisfaction with high immigration numbers had driven many voters to the AfD in the eastern regions. Kretschmer urged for united action among democratic parties: "If we can reach a consensus on this issue across parties, that would be a significant boost for democracy."
Kretschmer believed it was the "clear mandate from the voters" to address the migration issue "immediately." He stressed that immigration numbers needed to drop significantly. Instead of the projected 300,000 new arrivals this year, they should be "brought down to 30,000," he suggested. The "traffic light" coalition cannot continue to govern "against the will of this country" on this issue.
Merz proposed a potential solution for the migration crisis, suggesting the conversion of existing asylum facilities into housing for migrants who have already been granted asylum. This, he believes, could help alleviate the pressure on Germany's borders.
With Merz's proposal of asylum conversion, the CDU is aiming to find a balanced approach to the migration issue, ensuring the country's borders are secure while providing adequate housing for those who have been granted asylum.
