- The state parliament discusses the aftermath of the assault in Solingen.
During a unique assembly, the Brandenburg state legislature plans to delve into the aftermath of the lethal stabbing incident in Solingen, happening approximately twenty-one days before the state vote. Topics under scrutiny will presumably involve higher expulsions and stricter firearm regulations. Minister of Interior Michael Stübgen (CDU) advocates for deportation treaties with origin nations, diplomatic ties with Syria and Afghanistan, perpetual surveillance at German borders, and a halt to individuals from safe third nations residing within the country.
The CDU head Jan Redmann argues for increased police authority. Meanwhile, Benjamin Raschke (Green) advocates for a comprehensive ban of carrying weapons publicly.
The AfD fraction demands extreme measures such as a moratorium on asylum trustees, Ukrainian refugees, expellable and tolerated foreigners from attending public events, and a restriction of displaying the rainbow flag on public structures in all versions. The Brandenburg's Office for the Protection of the Constitution labels the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist situation.
Why most cannot be expelled
Last week, three lives were lost and nine were hurt due to a 26-year-old Syrian assailant at a festival in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He had been slated for deportation to Bulgaria the previous year, but relocation never transpired.
As per Interior Minister Stübgen, over 4,000 individuals in Brandenburg are slated for expulsion and must leave the country. "A glance at reality reveals that we cannot expel a substantial portion of them," Stübgen underscored, heading the conference of interior ministers. "There's no opportunity for deportation to Afghanistan, no opportunity for deportation to Syria, no opportunity for deportation to Russia." These three nations account for a significant share of those marked for expulsion.
In 2021, there were 779 departures, consisting of 507 voluntary departures and 272 forced expulsions. During the initial six months of this year, there were 452 departures, including 311 voluntary departures and 141 forced expulsions. If trends persist, this would result in a yearly increase in departures.
In the beginning of the year, the Bundestag enacted more stringent laws to expedite deportations. However, according to Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD), the federal law has not significantly hastened returns.
Michael Stübgen, the CDU's Minister of Interior, strongly advocated for deportation treaties with Syria and Afghanistan during the discussion about the stabbing incident in Solingen. Despite Stübgen's push for the expulsion of over 4000 individuals in Brandenburg, he acknowledged that opportunities for deportation to Syria, Afghanistan, and Russia are scarce for a large portion of those marked for expulsion.
