- The standoff on immigration: Scholz and Merz at an impasse
Following the collapse of immigration negotiations between the government and the Union, Scholz and Merz went at each other in the Bundestag.
Scholz called out Merz for not actively seeking a resolution from the start and labeling their interactions as a "dramatic performance". Merz dismissed this as "baseless".
Scholz suggested continuing the talks, acknowledging "the door isn't shut". However, Merz, the head of the predominant opposition faction, CDU/CSU, proposed shifting the immigration policy debate to the Bundestag. He justified this by stating that the government could enact necessary measures with its majority, as no constitutional change is required. This requires a two-thirds majority from the traffic light coalition in parliament and approval from certain sections of opposition.
"We won't get stuck in an endless loop of conversations with you," Merz said, adding, "You make the decisions in the government, and we can carry on the discussion here in the German Bundestag."
Merz declared the immigration talks between the traffic light government, federal states, and the Union as unsuccessful on Tuesday, after the second round. He claimed the coalition cannot enforce comprehensive rejections of migrants at German state borders and the effort to find a common solution has failed.
Scholz: "You're hiding out"
Scholz responded sharply to this, criticizing Merz personally. "You're hiding out," he declared. "You think you've solved the migration issue with an interview in 'Bild am Sonntag', but as soon as you leave the offices, you forget what you proposed," he charged against Merz on the podium.
Scholz's traffic light coalition, in contrast, has achieved "the biggest turnaround in managing irregular migration". He pointed to accelerated deportations, the government's security package, the planned common European asylum system, and the first discussion of the security package in the Bundestag, scheduled for Thursday. "Not complaining, but acting and getting to work. That's the motto," said Scholz.
Scholz clenching his fist - Merz projecting maturity
The usually reserved Scholz spoke loudly in the Bundestag, a volume typically associated with election campaign speeches. During his attacks on the Union, he clenched his fist several times.
Merz, however, refrained from sharp verbal attacks on the migration topic and presented himself in a more mature manner. He rejected accusations that the Union was adopting an anti-foreigner stance. "Germany must remain an open, pro-foreigner country," he said. The Union stands "firmly against any form of xenophobia and opposition to foreigners".
CSU faction leader Alexander Dobrindt, who opened the debate, took over the sharp attacks. He labeled the coalition the "coalition of decline".
Dobrindt used his opening speech to challenge the Traffic Light coalition. "This isn't a coalition of progress, but a coalition of decline in this country," he said. "People are tired of these Traffic Light excuses," criticized the CSU parliamentary group leader, and added that people have come to understand "whoever is in charge here will only provide excuses. But that endangers the security and social peace in our country."
Weidel refers to Scholz as "Chancellor of Decline"
AFD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel also attacked Scholz severely, labeling him "Chancellor of Decline". She criticized the people's appeasement with "alibi politics" and migration summits, urging "illegal migrants should not be allowed into the country at all, but the borders should be closed and everyone who tries to enter Germany without legal claim and without papers should be denied entry."
Lindner calls for a top-level migration summit
The future of immigration policy is uncertain. FDP leader Christian Lindner is advocating for another top-level attempt. Scholz and Merz should negotiate directly with Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and himself, Lindner wrote on the X platform. "The Union's rejection of the asylum summit should not be the final word." He added, "We will solve this issue together." FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr also urged the Union in the Bundestag to cooperate.
Scholz and Merz also disagree on Ukraine strategy
The general debate on the Chancellor's budget, which is the main event during the initial deliberations on the 2025 budget, submitted to the Bundestag on Tuesday, saw migration as the central topic. This debate, traditionally used to discuss the government's overall policy, also tackled foreign policy.
Scholz reiterated his call for another peace conference to end the Russian war against Ukraine - with Moscow in attendance. "Now is the moment, now is the time when we must explore potential avenues," said the SPD politician.
Merz also rejected this initiative. "We will not bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to surrender with such 'peace and diplomatic rhetoric'," he stated.
Scholz accused Merz of avoiding direct conversations on migration issues, stating, "You're hiding out, claiming to have solved migration with an interview, but failing to follow through in real discussions."
In response to the government's achievements in managing irregular migration, Merz suggested focusing the immigration policy debate in the Bundestag, stating, "We can carry on this discussion here in the German Bundestag, as you hold the power to make decisions in the government."
