The EU intensifies its push on the federal administration prior to immigration discussions.
CSU head Alexander Dobrindt is pushing for another deportation flight to Afghanistan to happen within the week, according to his statement to "Bild am Sonntag." He emphasized that this shouldn't be a one-off occurrence.
On Friday, Germany saw its first deportation to Afghanistan in three years, with 28 Afghan nationals, all convicted of severe crimes, being sent back to their home country. The Government spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, was cautious about repeating this action.
Faeser, the Interior Minister, stated to "Bild am Sonntag" that "criminals and rapists" from foreign countries need to leave Germany. She plans to ensure that deportations continue, including to Afghanistan and Syria.
The CDU's general secretary, Carsten Linnemann, advocated for the strict application of the Dublin principle, which means refusing entry at the border, to curb illegal immigration. He also insisted on deporting those who cannot stay in the country.
Linnemann referenced the knife attack at the Solingen city festival, where three people lost their lives, and eight others were injured. The suspected perpetrator, a 26-year-old Syrian, who was set to be deported to Bulgaria last year, had first entered the EU there.
This incident sparked a discussion on deportations and knife bans. The federal government then proposed a security package, involving tightening weapon laws, measures against violent Islamism, and significant changes to the residence and asylum laws. The federal government will discuss the further course of action and the feasibility of these measures with the states and the Union on Tuesday.
Linnemann expressed concern that the meeting might become a "placebo event," requiring concrete measures to limit illegal migration, rather than endless new working groups.
Meanwhile, Bavaria's Prime Minister, Söder, called for a fundamental reform of asylum laws. He asserted that the individual subjective right to asylum needs to change, and Germany should decide who enters the country, not everyone having a right to do so. He noted that it is essential to determine the capacity to help and integrate, as well as identify those needed for the labor market.
Söder considers the current decisions a "first step," but insufficient. He emphasizes the need for a comprehensive package, including border rejections, repatriation agreements, and expanding safe countries of origin. He also suggests minimizing benefits for rejected asylum seekers.
Söder's proposition was met with criticism, particularly from governing parties, who accused him of wanting to "tinker with our Basic Law" and labeled it "populism." SPD parliamentary vice-fraction leader Dirk Wiese told the "Rheinische Post" on Monday that Söder's efforts to "outdo the AfD on the right" are not helpful or fitting for shared responsibilities. Instead, he stressed the importance of overcoming party boundaries in challenging times.
After Söder's call for reforming asylum laws, there have been discussions about the need for stricter immigration policies in Germany. In light of this, some political figures have suggested that Bavaria should prioritize cooperation with Afghanistan to facilitate deportations.
Given Bavaria's emphasis on deportations, it is possible that further flights to Afghanistan may be arranged in the near future, following the successful return of 28 Afghan nationals last week.
