State Association SPD - SPD party leader against stricter approach in asylum policy
Berlin's SPD party leader rules out CDU partner's demands for a change in refugee policy strategy. "The CDU faction's call for a harder approach on asylum goes beyond the problem at hand. The major challenge we face is – long-term – accommodating the refugees," said SPD Landesvorsitzende Nicola Böcker-Giannini.
Districts should create more refugee accommodations
The districts should receive incentives to create more accommodations, said the SPD politician. "For each refugee accommodation place, districts should receive a yearly lump sum to improve the local social infrastructure for all people," she added.
CDU-Fraktion calls for strategy change on migration, integration, and work
During their weekend caucus, the CDU faction demanded a change in strategy on migration, integration, and work. In a position paper discussed and adopted during the caucus, the parliamentarians called for a commitment from asylum seekers to perform community service, a halt to family reunification, and a more consistent approach to deporting or denying asylum to those who have committed crimes.
SPD-Landesvorsitzende for discussion on free school meals
SPD-Landesvorsitzende Co-Leader Martin Hikel and Nicola Böcker-Giannini consider a renewed discussion on free school meals in Berlin necessary. "In the necessary budget savings in the state budget, we must look at how we can redistribute existing funds and secure additional funds," Hikel said, who is also Neukölln District Mayor and has been co-chairing the SPD Landesverband since May.
Hikel looks to Hamburg
"Hamburg is taking a different approach by financing school meals through the federal education and participation package funds," Hikel explained. "But-eligible children will continue to receive free meals, while those not eligible must pay for their own meals." Hikel believes this model is suitable for Berlin as well.
SPD-Fraktionschef Raed Saleh, who was the Landesvorsitzender until May, holds a different view. Saleh has been advocating for fee-free kindergarten offers, free meals for all students, and free public transportation for students for years.
Hikel and Böcker-Giannini had criticized this before their election as party leaders. After their election, the discussion on this issue seemed to have ended. However, with the pressure to save at least three billion Euros in the Berlin budget by 2025, the search for savings potential is intensifying.
- The ongoing debate in Asylpolitics has led to a strategy change proposal from the CDU Party, focusing on migration, integration, and work.
- The SDP politician, advocating for more refugee accommodations, suggested incentives for districts, proposing a yearly lump sum for each accommodation place to improve local social infrastructure.
- During a recent weekend caucus, the CDU-Fraktion demanded a shift in strategy, which includes commitments from asylum seekers, a halt to family reunification, and a more consistent approach to deportation.
- In Hamburg, schools provide free meals financed through the federal education and participation package, a strategy that Neukölln District Mayor and SPD-Landesvorsitzende Co-Leader Martin Hikel finds suitable for Berlin.
- SPD-Landesvorsitzende Nicola Böcker-Giannini and Martin Hikel consider a renewed discussion on free school meals in Berlin necessary due to budget savings and redistribution of funds.
- CDU-Fraktionschef Raed Saleh, who previously held the position of Landesvorsitzender, has long advocated for fee-free kindergarten offers, free meals for all students, and free public transportation for students.
- With the pressure to save at least three billion Euros in the Berlin budget by 2025, the search for savings potential is intensifying, resurfacing the discussion on fee-free services and financial redistribution.
