- Scholz upholds the principle of personal asylum rights
Chancellor Olaf Scholz maintains the individual right to seek asylum. "The right to seek asylum continues unchanged. It's enshrined in our Constitution, and nobody's challenging that with my backing," Scholz mentioned in ZDF-"heute journal". The statement came mere hours after a meet-up with CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Post the alleged Islamist attack in Solingen that left three dead on Friday, Merz had suggested a universal ban on accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, later referring to it as an 'unofficial ban.'
SPD's Interior Politician Interprets Merz's Proposition as Political Campaigning
At the meeting, Merz proposed a joint migration policy realignment to Scholz - even without the Green and FDP coalition partners' backing, which amounted to a coalition break-up call. Scholz's definitive standpoint is yet to follow. SPD's Interior Minister, Dirk Wiese, informed Funke media group newspapers: "Our nation's attribute lies in its ability to transcend party boundaries during tough times. But it should be done sincerely. The push for a coalition breakdown isn't really addressing the current issue. I deeply regret this." On Sunday, elections are held in Saxony and Thuringia.
FDP Finds Resonance in Merz's Proposals
Unlike the Greens, FDP chief Christian Lindner supported Merz's proposals. He told Bild: "FDP is prepared for cross-party collaborations to consistently implement a practical approach in migration policies, led by both federal and state governments. Merz's migration proposals bear a striking resemblance to FDP's." Lindner also confirmed: "Moreover, we suggest that refugees from countries like Solingen's perpetrator's (Syria) no longer receive German social benefits, enabling them to travel to responsible EU countries."
Greens Question Merz's Tone
Though open to discussions, Green faction's parliamentary manager, Irene Mihalic, criticized Merz's aggressive rhetoric. "The head of the largest opposition faction is deviating from his responsibilities by stirring up disharmony instead of addressing the issue," she stated to Bild. Green faction leader Britta Haßelmann told DPA: "All democratic parties are responsible for curbing Islamist terror threats. The federal and state governments share this responsibility." Targeted measures and real solutions are needed, not a personal agenda. She didn't name Merz.
Merz Now Uses the Term "De Facto Ban on Accepting Refugees"
Defending his call for a Syria and Afghanistan refugee acceptance ban, Merz remarked that his proposal doesn't entail amending asylum law in the Constitution. Instead, "it will lead to a de facto ban on accepting refugees," as stated in Merz's four-page "Questions and Answers" sent to party board members post the encounter with Scholz.
Reports by dpa suggest that Merz's proposal for a pause in refugee admissions raised questions within his party regarding its legality. Merz made this demand over the weekend, shortly after the Solingen suspected Islamist attack. The suspected perpetrator, a 26-year-old Syrian, is currently in police custody. The federal prosecutor's office is probing him for murder charges and suspected IS membership, which claimed responsibility for the attack. However, his deportation to Bulgaria was halted.
Chancellor Scholz reiterated that the individual right to seek asylum remains unchanged, as it is protected by the Constitution. Despite CDU leader Friedrich Merz suggesting an unofficial ban on accepting refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, Scholz maintains that the right to seek asylum at an asylum center remains a fundamental right.
