Scholz dodges Merz's migration aid offer with a side of caution.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been tiptoeing around CDU leader Friedrich Merz's proposal for cooperating in curbing uncontrolled migration, which some fear could crack their coalition. During an SPD campaign event in Jena, Scholz responded hesitantly to Merz's offer, saying, "Never grow complacent after taking action." He acknowledged Merz's invitation to join forces in reducing irregular migration, commenting, "It's right that the opposition leader in the German Bundestag proposes cooperation."
Scholz had a friendly chat with Merz at the Chancellery, a meeting planned well in advance. He welcomed Merz's "useful suggestions" and underlined the importance of government-opposition collaboration.
Ignoring Union's demands, Scholz spotlighted the need to uphold democratic principles while working together to shape the country. In response to Merz's suggestion of blocking Afghans and Syrians at the border, Scholz referred to international treaties, EU regulations, and the German constitution, asserting they would remain in place.
Scholz rejected Merz's call for joint legislation on stricter migration policies, even if coalition allies, the Greens and FDP, objected to such legislation.
Scholz defended his administration against accusations of inactivity, boasting that measures to reduce irregular migration have shown results, with a decrease in illegal immigration and an increase in deportations.
Scholz reaffirmed his commitment to deporting criminals to Syria and Afghanistan, though challenges remain, like within the Foreign Ministry.
Enforcement agencies are actively enacting measures to decrease unregulated migration and boost deportations., acknowledging that collaboration between the government and Merz's party could aid in minimizing uncontrolled migration.
Relevant Insights:
- Border Controls Extensions:
- Scholz's administration extended border controls by six months until September 15, 2025, resulting in the return of 47,000 individuals and a significant drop in asylum applications[5].
- Law Enforcement:
- Scholz emphasized the importance of enforcing existing laws more effectively to prevent incidents like the deadly knife attack in Aschaffenburg[1].
- Deportations:
- Scholz called for "effective" deportations, promising that legal immigration will only be accepted if the law is enforced. He reported an increase in deportations by almost a quarter compared to the previous year[1].
- Criticism of Merz's Proposal:
- Scholz criticized Merz's proposal for accepting votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, calling it an "unforgivable mistake." He argued that Merz's proposals contradict both German and EU asylum law, including the Geneva Convention[1][2].
- Historical Context:
- Scholz invoked the history of Germany's Nazi dictatorship, emphasizing that Germany cannot repeat the same mistakes and that upholding the right to asylum is a crucial part of Germany's legal and value system[1].
- European Unity:
- Scholz warned that Merz's stricter border control and deportation policies would conflict with both German and EU law and risk undermining European unity, potentially damaging the Schengen system[5].
Further Reading:
- Scholz works on expelling severe offenders.
- Scholz clarifies stance on potential Afghan deportations.
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal.
- New right-wing parliamentary group in the EU Parliament is formed – without AfD.
