Spahn vigorously criticizes the EU, labeling it as 'insane'.
Following the tragic terrorist attack in Solingen, there's a growing demand for toughening asylum regulations. On Markus Lanz's ZDF talk show, CDU politician Spahn calls for Germany's borders to be shut to refugees. He accuses Chancellor Scholz of being insincere.
After his summer break, Markus Lanz dives into the hot topic that's preoccupying many Germans: Preventing incidents like the one in Solingen. On Friday, a Syrian stabbed three people to death and injured eight more at a city festival. This incident is intensifying the debate about strengthening asylum laws. CDU member Jens Spahn, for example, is reiterating his request for the closure of Germany's borders for unauthorized migration.
Before him, CDU party leader Friedrich Merz had met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and proposed collaborating with the Social Democrats to tighten asylum laws. Merz suggested declaring a "national emergency" to bypass EU regulations. However, Spahn asserts on Markus Lanz that the traffic light coalition cannot enforce tightening measures because the Greens would not support it.
"Our proposal is that we're willing to take responsibility and make decisions that primarily address the root cause," Spahn explains his party leader's proposal in a roundabout manner. The cause, Spahn continues, is irregular migration. "Without control, more and more people are coming to Germany, and we don't know who, how, when, why. We've already surpassed our capacity in our schools, kindergartens, and cities." Not every refugee coming to Germany is a potential threat, Spahn notes. However, he claims, a significant number could be. Therefore, decisive action is required, Spahn says: "If the federal chancellor claims to be upset, I find that almost hypocritical. He should solve problems, not just express anger." The German asylum and migration system is broken, Spahn emphasizes. "It's not functioning, and that's why we believe it should also be temporarily suspended. Friedrich Merz has made that clear."
In fact, the asylum system is flawed in numerous ways. Journalist Anne Haehnig from "Die Zeit" and legal scholar Daniel Thym from the University of Constance mention the return of rejected asylum seekers within Europe as an example. The Solingen attacker had initially applied for asylum in Bulgaria. His application was approved. Then he moved to Germany and filed another asylum application. That was denied. He should have been sent back to Bulgaria. Bulgaria was willing to accept him. But when officials from the Bielefeld immigration office arrived at the Syrian's residence to take him back, he was not there. The officials left empty-handed.
According to law, a rejected asylum seeker who has applied for asylum in another EU country must be deported back there within six months. Afterward, the granted asylum no longer applies, and in this case, Germany would have been responsible for the refugee. This is not an isolated incident, states Anne Haehnig. In fact, around 75,000 rejected asylum seekers had to leave another EU country last year. However, only 5,000 actually departed.
"The entire situation is regulated by laws passed by the EU," Spahan argues. He concludes: "If a system fails and has not worked for ten years, then we in Germany cannot blindly adhere to it until we lose control and security in the country."
Journalist Thym explains that Germany should uphold what is written in EU laws because it was agreed upon. However, he also says, "We could have changed it." In June, a European asylum reform was passed, but the deportation regulation was not included. According to journalist Hahnig, this was under the leadership of an EU president who is a member of the CDU. For constitutional lawyer Thym, it's clear: There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Changes need to be made to the German constitution and EU laws. This could take years, he says.
Spahn disagrees: "The EU is still a union of independent, sovereign states. And if the European asylum system fails to serve our interest, then I do not wish to be constantly reminded of dysfunctional EU laws. Then, to protect our population, maintain our security, since we don't know who is entering the country, and integrate those who are already here, we must, in a sense of emergency, temporarily suspend EU law. Our borders cannot take any more."
Later, he becomes more specific: "The pressure to address fundamental issues from the European side will only arise if Germany closes its borders." "Time" journalist Hahnig wants to know more and asks, "If you became chancellor, would you close the borders to put pressure on the European partners?" Spahn's response: "I would recommend that to my party."
Spahn, a CDU member, continues to advocate for Germany's borders to be closed for unauthorized migration, echoing his previous requests. He finds it hypocritical for Chancellor Scholz to express anger about the situation without taking action.
In response to a question about potential border closures, Spahn suggests that if he were to become chancellor, he would recommend closing the borders to put pressure on European partners.
