Migration Issue: Merz Criticizes Scholz for Lack of Action Before Minister Presidents' Meeting
Chancellor refrains from strengthening deportation measures due to concerns for coalition partners, according to Merz. "Swift expulsion of denied asylum seekers is delayed by the Greens. The agreement for negotiations with origin countries is inadequate."
Recent Chancellor's declaration to deport productive migrants to Syria and Afghanistan has yet to be translated into actual actions, Merz noted. "Citizens are seeking tangible outcomes rather than more announcements."
Bavaria's Prime Minister and CSU leader, Markus Söder, pressed for a harder stance on asylum policy prior to the Bund-Länder-Summit. Söder insists that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) should initiate talks with the authorities in Afghanistan and Syria to pave the way for the expulsion of serious offenders to both nations. "Rather than constantly emphasizing the same ideological disagreements, the Federal Foreign Minister should immediately engage in talks with the Taliban and the Assad regime," Söder told the "Augsburger Allgemeine".
At Deutschlandfunk, Söder expressed his belief that Baerbock wouldn't rush to Kabul "for negotiations right away," but the Foreign Office has "countless contacts." The Foreign Minister should not "halt negotiations in the end due to green ideological reasons" and should "aid, along with the entire Federal Government, in finding ways to make a return feasible, as our rule of law is repeatedly accused of being idle."
The CSU leader openly advocated for outsourcing asylum proceedings. "The Federal Government must finally take action in the third-country solution with reception centers in other countries," said Soeder. "This isn't limited to African states, but the traffic light must also act in Europe," said the CSU leader to the "Augsburger Allgemeine". "Why doesn't the Foreign Minister hold negotiations with Albania, as Italy does? The Greens must finally let go of the brakes."
In the afternoon of Thursday, the prime ministers and heads of government of the federal states met with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to discuss various contentious matters, including outsourcing asylum procedures to third countries. Scholz has recently shown no fundamental objection to this. However, formal negotiations with third countries have yet to take place.
