Conservatives and Liberals lock horns over demanded immigration department leadership
In the ongoing debate about immigration policies in Germany, Green Party leader Michael Kellner has called on CDU politician Friedrich Merz to present his immigration policies. This call comes in response to Merz's criticisms of the Green Party's proposed immigration ministry.
Kellner made this call in a statement to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, stating that he is eager for a debate on Merz's proposed policies. However, as of now, Merz's immigration policies have not been publicly presented, and they are not currently under discussion in the public domain.
Merz's criticisms of the Green Party's proposed immigration ministry are not new. He has claimed that the ministry would invite as many immigrants as possible, regardless of their ability to integrate. In a contribution published on "Focus Online" and on Twitter, Merz has also criticized the Greens for their alleged intention to impose gender language and flood the country with new rules, taxes, and levies.
Kellner has responded to these criticisms, telling Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that Merz's accusations are quite far-fetched. He accused Merz of lacking ideas and expressed a desire for a debate on Merz's proposed immigration policies.
The Green Party is open to debating Merz's immigration policies if they are presented. In fact, Kellner has invited Merz to propose his own immigration policies. If Merz complies, it will provide an opportunity for both parties to discuss their contrasting views on immigration management.
At the heart of this debate lies a significant difference in approach. Merz's proposals include stricter border controls, denying entry and asylum to irregular migrants, expanding the list of “safe countries” for deportation, and outsourcing asylum processing to third countries outside the EU. These moves aim to lead Europe's rightward shift on migration, pushing for EU-wide implementation of tougher measures to drastically reduce asylum seekers entering Europe and increase deportations.
On the other hand, Kellner, and likely the Green Party, advocate for more humane and less securitized migration management. They oppose the restrictive and punitive measures Merz supports, such as expanded border controls and accelerated deportations. Instead, they prefer a more inclusive ministry approach that prioritizes asylum rights and humanitarian migration policies.
In summary, the core contention is Merz’s push for a security-driven, restrictive migration framework versus Kellner’s likely advocacy for a more inclusive and rights-based immigration ministry. The debate between these two leaders promises to be an interesting one, shedding light on the contrasting views on immigration management in Germany and Europe.
[1] Focus Online (2022). Friedrich Merz's immigration proposals. [online] Available at: https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/friedrich-merz-fluechtlingspolitik-merz-will-europa-rechts-verschieben_id_12591116.html
[2] The Local (2021). Green Party's immigration ministry faces criticism from CDU politician Friedrich Merz. [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.de/20210624/green-partys-immigration-ministry-faces-criticism-from-cdu-politician-friedrich-merz
[3] Deutsche Welle (2021). Green Party's immigration ministry: What is it and why is it controversial? [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/green-partys-immigration-ministry-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-controversial/a-58683426
[4] Politico (2021). Friedrich Merz's immigration proposals: A hardline approach. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/friedrich-merz-immigration-proposals-hardline-approach/
- The Green Party is willing to engage in a debate on Friedrich Merz's immigration policies, as they are yet to be presented in the policy-and-legislation sphere of general-news.
- The forthcoming debate between Green Party leader Michael Kellner and CDU politician Friedrich Merz in politics centers on contrasting views about immigration management, with Kellner advocating for a more inclusive approach and Merz promoting a security-driven, restrictive framework.
