SPD head Esken turns down Merz's proposal for sanctuary.
SPD leader Saskia Esken refuses to collaborate with the Union on tightening asylum laws without the other coalition partners. She believes that in challenging situations, it's important for a head of government to discuss potential cooperation with the opposition leader, but not at the expense of the Greens and FDP, their coalition partners.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and CDU leader Friedrich Merz had a lengthy chat on Tuesday, primarily focusing on the aftermath of the Solingen attack. Merz proposed a joint effort with the SPD on migration policy, aiming to bring about changes to the law during the upcoming parliamentary session starting September 9. He wants to work with the parts of the coalition that are open to this approach, aiming to pass the changes with a majority of Union and SPD supporters.
However, Esken highlighted the need to understand why the suspected attacker's deportation failed and how to prevent radicalization in Germany.
"I don't get that either, as a Green"
The Greens accused Merz of exploiting the Solingen attack for political gain. "We have state elections coming up. I get that up to a certain point. But I hope we don't do party politics now," said Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir on ntv. Merz overlooks the fact that changes to asylum law were passed together with the Greens. Moreover, Merz is diverting attention from the fact that the issue lay not in a loophole in the law but in the lack of enforcement by authorities. "That drives people crazy, that we constantly talk about changes to the law, but we don't even apply the existing ones," said Özdemir.
The Green Minister also criticized the inefficiency of German security authorities. "The German security authorities are caught between traditional methods and advanced technology while others use high-tech," said Özdemir. "There are loopholes in the law. For instance, foreign services must provide us with information that our services are legally prohibited from obtaining. That's something no normal person understands. I don't get that either as a Green."
"We've got an issue"
Similarly, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck echoed this. The Green Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that there's a lot to be done in the field of security policy. In a video message, Habeck cited equipment and powers of security authorities, the fight against radicalization, and migration as examples. "We've got an issue," said Habeck. With the increasing number of refugees since 2015, the number of violent criminals has also risen. "Those who misuse our hospitality or the high value of asylum have no right to continue invoking it."
Habeck pointed out the discrepancy in deportations between those legally required to leave the country and those who actually do, an "enforcement issue." He again advocated for stricter gun laws and stronger action against internet platforms that fail to consistently combat propaganda.
The FDP also seems to support Merz's proposed changes in asylum and migration policy. "The FDP is ready to make bipartisan efforts to consistently implement a new realism in migration by the federal and state governments," said FDP leader and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner to Bild. "Merz's migration proposals align largely with those of the FDP." Lindner also emphasized that the FDP had already called for more migration control "when the CDU was still on the Merkel course."
The Green Minister shared similar concerns about Merz leveraging the Solingen attack for political gain, stating, "I don't get that either, as a Green." Furthermore, The Commission should investigate the reasons behind the failed deportation and address the issue of enforcing existing asylum laws, as highlighted by Minister Özdemir.
