- Scholz affirms: The right to individual asylum will persist.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz maintains the individual right to asylum amenability. "The right to asylum independently persists. That's engraved in our Basic Law. And nobody will challenge that with my endorsement," the SPD politician asserted in the ZDF-"heute journal". Scholz expressed this shortly after a dialogue with CDU head Friedrich Merz. Following the alleged Islamist attack in Solingen on Friday with three causalities, Merz advocated, inter alia, a general denial of accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan – earlier on Tuesday evening, Merz proposed a "de facto denial of accepting refugees".
SPD's inner politician perceives Merz's proposition as electioneering
Merz suggested to the Chancellor in the dialogue a joint overhaul of migration policy – even without the coalition partners Greens and FDP, which essentially connotes a breakdown of the coalition. A definitive response from Scholz is still awaited. SPD internal politician Dirk Wiese informed the Funke media group newspapers: "This nation distinguishes itself in challenging circumstances by the fact that the government and the opposition surmount party obstacles." However, this must be accomplished with a sense of seriousness. "The demand for a breakdown of the coalition is more stemming from the elections on Sunday. I deeply regret that." On Sunday, state elections are taking place in Saxony and Thuringia.
FDP acknowledges significant synergies with CDU proposals on asylum policy
FDP leader Christian Lindner, nonetheless, demonstrated an openness towards Merz's proposals. He told "Bild": "The FDP is ready for cross-party initiatives to consistently implement fresh realism in migration from both the federal and state governments. Merz's proposals on migration largely concur with those of the FDP." Lindner also affirmed: "Moreover, we propose that Dublin refugees like the Solingen perpetrator no longer receive social benefits in Germany, allowing them to return to the responsible EU country."
Greens censure Merz's lexical selection
The parliamentary manager of the Green faction, Irene Mihalic, generally expressed openness to dialogues, but criticized Merz's tone. "The chairman of the largest opposition faction is stirring (...), instead of fulfilling his responsibility," she communicated to "Bild". Green faction leader Britta Haßelmann informed the German Press Agency: "All democratic parties hold responsibility for decisively combating the dangers of Islamist terrorism. Both the federal and state governments share this duty." Focused measures and genuine solutions are required. "It's not about self-promotion," she asserted, without mentioning Merz.
Merz now requests a "de facto denial of accepting refugees"
Meanwhile, Merz defended his proposal for a denial of accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan fundamentally – but now only alludes to a "de facto denial of accepting refugees", which his proposals would engender. "We are not demanding a modification in the Asylum Act in the Basic Law," it states in a four-page "Questions and Answers" paper sent by Merz to the members of the federal board of his party after his meeting with Scholz.
As per DPA reports, Merz's proposal had stirred concerns within his own ranks regarding the legitimacy of such a halt on admissions. Merz had made this demand over the weekend - immediately following the suspected Islamist attack in Solingen. The suspected perpetrator is a 26-year-old Syrian man who is now detained. The federal prosecutor's office is currently investigating him for murder and suspected membership in the terrorist organization IS, which claimed responsibility for the attack. The suspected perpetrator was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria, but this did not ensue.
The SPD, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, disagrees with Merz's proposal for a general denial of accepting refugees, viewing it as electioneering tactics. The Commission, referencing Germany's parliamentary bodies, has a collective responsibility to combat the dangers of Islamist terrorism effectively without resorting to self-promotion.
