Unhappy Bords: Kehl's Mayor Slams Tightened Crossing Points with Strasbourg
Criticizing Strengthened Border Regulations, Kehler's Mayor Expresses Concerns - Criticizes Enhanced Border Surveillance: Kehler's Perspective
Hey there! Let's chat about the latest drama unfolding at the German-French border. Kehl's Mayor, Wolfram Britz, is none too pleased about the beefed-up security measures at the border with Strasbourg, France's neighboring city. He ain't mincing words, calling it a step back to old times they thought they'd left behind.
It's quite the pickle for thousands of border-crossing commuters, learnin' folks, and families caught in the crossfire. The mayor of this Ortenau district border town has summoned the brand-spanking new Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to write them a stern letter expressing his dissatisfaction.
Now, Dobrindt told 'em to buckle up, because he intends to tighten the rules at Germany's borders, and asylum seekers could even be turned away at the border. But, don't worry, he's got a heart – pregnant women, little whippersnappers, and the vulnerable shall be spared from this treatment.
Traffic jams on the European Bridge
So, the boys in blue beefed up their presence at Kehl's European Bridge, too. The spokesperson from the Federal Police Inspectorate Offenburg confirmed it to the German Press Agency. They reckon they'll carry out targeted controls to keep the traffic flowin' smooth. Been doin' these controls since September 2024, but from Kehl's point of view, they've been a bit less intrusive.
On Thursday afternoon, there were pools of cars rushin' through the European Bridge, which is kind of a chokepoint for traffic between eastern France and Germany. Caused a bit of a cluster on Kehl's side of things, seein' as it was a shopping day for many Alsatians, who were heading to Baden-Württemberg. As France usually marks the end of the war on May 8th, ya know.
Mayor: Controls on Trams Too
Britz ain't happy neither about those trams comin' from Strasbourg. He said they were held up for more than ten minutes durin' lunchtime. The tram line goes across the Rhine, connectin' the two cities. "It can't be that German controls are muckin' up the tram traffic right through the European city of Strasbourg," Britz explained, callin' it a big nuisance. The tightenin' of controls just as the 80th anniversary of the end of the war rolls around strikes him as a tactless move.
- Strasbourg
- Border Control
- Alexander Dobrindt
- France
- Ortenau District
- Friedrich Merz
- CDU
- CSU
Some Extra Insights
- Strengthened Border Controls and Their Impact:
- Commuters, Students, and Families: Stricter border controls could lead to increased delays for commuters, students, and families, potentially disrupting their daily routines.
- Legal Concerns: Some fear that beefed-up border policies could potentially violate legal norms, leading to internal resistance within Germany.
- Regional Influences: The criticisms from neighboring countries like Poland and Austria suggest that these policies are part of a broader European discussion on migration and border security, potentially impacting specific border points.
- The mayor of Kehl, Wolfram Britz, has expressed dissatisfaction towards the strengthened border controls, claiming it is a step back to old times and a nuisance, particularly for the thousands of commuters, students, and families who cross the border daily.
- Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Interior Minister, plans to tighten the rules at Germany's borders, even proposing the possible rejection of asylum seekers, while exempting pregnant women, children, and the vulnerable.
- As a result of these tighter border controls, traffic congestion has occurred on the European Bridge connecting Kehl and eastern France, causing delays and inconvenience for many.
- Mayor Britz has criticized the controls on trams coming from Strasbourg, stating that they have caused unnecessary delays during lunchtime, and finds it troubling that these stricter measures have been implemented so close to the anniversary of the end of World War II.
