Merz's Unyielding Approach to Asylum Seekers at German Borders
Merz's Determined Stance
Friedrich Merz persists in denying entry to asylum seekers at the border. - Friedrich Merz advocates for maintaining border controls to deter asylum seekers from entering the country.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stands firm on his decision to turn away asylum seekers at Germany's borders, even after a Berlin court ruling deemed it illegal in a particular instance. Despite the court's ruling, Merz maintains that there's enough wiggle room to persist with the turnaways, as he addressed the German Cities and Municipalities Association's congress in Berlin.
Border Turnaways to Persist - Legally Speaking
"We'll certainly play by the rulebook," declares Merz, ensuring that all measures will be taken within existing European law. He continues by stating that controlling borders is crucial to keeping public safety, order, and prevent an overload of cities and municipalities. The federal government is ready to tackle the task and keep enforcing internal border controls until the situation at Europe's external borders drastically improves and new common European rules are established.
Court's Interim Decision Vacillates
German federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had ordered stricter border controls on May 7, directing that asylum seekers be turned away with exceptions, such as expecting pregnant women and small children. Three Somalis were turned away at a border control in Frankfurt (Oder) but the Berlin Administrative Court ruled on Monday that this turnaway was illegal in an interim decision. The court's verdict highlights that asylum seekers may not be rejected without clarification of their EU-member state responsibility for processing their asylum claims. the three individuals were sent back to Poland.
Who's the Boss Now? - An Ongoing Struggle
The court's decision may have put a tiny damper on the turnaway policy, but Merz and Interior Minister Dobrindt proclaim they won't be changing their practices right away. They consider this ruling a single decision and await a more conclusive resolution. Long story short, the cat and mouse game between the courts and the government is far from over.
Frivolous Footnotes:
1 - This hardline stance is in response to the rising far-right sentiments across Germany.2 - Merz's government initially attempted to justify the policy using Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which allows for suspension of EU law in public order threats.3 - The court's decision could set a significant precedent for European countries mulling over similar policies.
- Chancellor Merz asserted that the federal government will adhere to policy-and-legislation within the institution of the European Union, while continuing to prioritize border controls for the preservation of public safety and order, even amidst ongoing legal challenges from the community institution, such as the Berlin Administrative Court.
- The persistent struggle between the German government's border turnaway policy and the court's rulings underscores the complexities of politics and general-news regarding asylum seekers, particularly when it comes to determining the EU-member state responsibility for processing asylum claims, and could potentially establish a significant precedent for other European countries contemplating similar policies.
