- Woidke voices criticisms towards Faeser during the discussion on deportations
Following the tragedy in Solingen, Brandenburg's State President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) distances himself from Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) in the discussion about deportations. "I find Faeser's remarks unsuitable," Woidke commented on his party companion to "Tagesspiegel" (Wednesday). "It doesn't contribute to pointing fingers at each other. Everyone is expected to work together." He couldn't see any progress made by the federal law for faster removals. "Germany's migration policy over the past decade needs to be reviewed."
Faeser stresses state responsibility
Faeser views the states as responsible for more consistently removing those liable for removal. "Legally, we've established comprehensive new foundations for more expulsions, so those liable for removal can no longer avoid removal," the SPD politician told Funke media group newspapers. "Most importantly, the new powers and regulations need to be implemented on the ground by the states."
On Friday, three individuals were killed and eight injured, four seriously, at a city festival in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The primary suspect is a 26-year-old Syrian man who is currently in custody. The man was intended for deportation to Bulgaria last year, but it didn't happen.
The Brandenburg state parliament will convene for a special session on Thursday, upon request of the AfD state parliamentary group, to discuss the aftermath of the act. The debate on consequences coincides with the election campaign: A new state parliament will be elected in Brandenburg on September 22.
Stübben criticizes deportation law
Interior Minister Michael Stübben (CDU) repeated his criticism of the federal government. The law designed to speed up deportations makes it even more challenging in practice to deport those liable for removal, Stübben told "Tagesspiegel". He currently presides over the Interior Ministers' Conference.
The Bundestag adopted legislative tightening at the beginning of the year to facilitate deportations. The maximum time of detention pending deportation was extended from 10 to 28 days. Officials may also enter additional rooms in communal accommodations beyond the room of the person to be deported.
The Commission, following the discussion about deportations, could adopt a decision aimed at improving the implementation of the new powers and regulations for removals, as suggested by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. Despite Faeser's emphasis on state responsibility in more consistently removing those liable for removal, Brandenburg's State President Dietmar Woidke found her remarks unsuitable and didn't see any progress made by the federal law for faster removals.
