The Finance Minister, Lindner, advocates for diminishing social aid for refugees who are mandated to depart, to nothing.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) backs calls to lessen social aid for deportable refugees. He told the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" that individuals who are required to leave Europe under law, like the suspect from Solingen, should only cover their return expenses to their home country. "All other social assistance in Germany should be set to zero," he stated. Previously, FDP group leader Christian Dürr and CDU Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) suggested this.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz shared this view. "Individuals who need to leave the country cannot simultaneously benefit from social aid," Merz said in Berlin. He noted that this is not incorporated in any refugee agreement. Merz pointed out that claiming social aid for deportable individuals is not a norm in other European nations either. He used Sweden as an example. Lindner argued that immigrants entering the EU select the nation with the most enticing social benefits as their desired destination. This practice should be halted. "Additionally, we can significantlyLighten the burden on German taxpayers by diminishing the allure of our social benefits."
The FDP chairman referred to instances under the Dublin Rules. These regulations necessitate initiating asylum procedures in the EU country where a refugee first enters. If the individual continues traveling, for instance, to Germany, they can be sent back to their initial country of registration. The presumed attacker in Solingen initially entered EU territory in Bulgaria and should have been returned there. Lindner demanded clarification from the North Rhine-Westphalian state government.
"There are 'tens of thousands' of such instances in Germany," the FDP leader said. "In these cases, the law must be consistently enforced." Lindner dismissed Merz's appeal to halt the acceptance of people from Syria and Afghanistan. "Merz's demands are aimed at diverting attention from the necessary action by the CDU state government in North Rhine-Westphalia," he stated. "What is legally permissible, namely deportations to Syria and Afghanistan, we must urgently employ."
Minister of Finance Christian Lindner further emphasized the need to reduce financial aid for deportable refugees, stating, "Bylessening social aid for individuals who are required to leave Europe under law, we can significantly lighten the burden on German taxpayers." Meanwhile, CDU leader Friedrich Merz agreed, highlighting that claiming social aid for deportable individuals is not a norm in other European nations.
