Taking a Hardline on Border Refusals - Merz Under Fire from Thuringia's Left
Thuringia's Critique of Merz Predicts Unlawful Action - "Legal Violation Allegation Levied Against Merz" - Thuringian Criticism Unveiled
In a blistering critique, Thuringia's Left state party and leader Christian Schaft have slammed Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) for his aggressive stance on rejections of asylum seekers. "It's ballsy how Merz is stirring up a right-wing hype at the cost of human rights and the rule of law," Schaft took aim at Merz in remarks to the German Press Agency in Erfurt.
Previously, Merz had shown no signs of backing down on enforcing border rejections, even in the face of an administrative court decision. Berlin's Administrative Court ruled on Monday, in an urgent decree, that the rejection of three Somalis at a border checkpoint near Frankfurt (Oder) train station was unlawful.
Merz sees no sweat
"The court's ruling might narrow the playing field, but the room for maneuver still exists," Merz stated confidently. "We know we can still carry out rejections." He was quick to add that these actions would adhere to existing European law.
The Refugee Council is baffled
Schaft called Merz's approach "lawbreaking with announcement," a move that fosters "political whimsy." Juliane Kemnitz from the Thuringian Refugee Council said, "We're flabbergasted to see the principles of the rule of law being flouted." Kemnitz urged an end to the asylum seeker rejections at the borders.
The Thuringian CDU faction backed their Chancellor. CDU faction justice policy spokesman, Stefan Schard, asserted that Merz's words were "legally sound" and supported the court's decision as an "individual case." "Those who jump to conclusions that border rejections are now universally banned, twist the facts," said Schard, accusing the Green parliamentary faction the most of such manipulations. "The Greens give the impression that the federal government must change course immediately. That's bullshit—and reckless," Schard declared in a statement.
- Rejection
- Friedrich Merz
- Christian Schaft
- CDU
- Lawbreaking
- Thuringia
- Erfurt
- Border control
- Berlin
- German Press Agency
- Administrative Court
Enrichment Insights:
Friedrich Merz's tough stance on immigration, including rejecting asylum seekers at German borders, reflects a broader policy of enforcing stricter entry bans for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, a promise he made during his election campaign under pressure from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party[1]. In a legal setback for Merz's immigration policies, a Berlin court ruled that returning asylum seekers at the border is unlawful, emphasizing that individuals who submit asylum applications during border controls on German territory cannot be turned back[1]. Critics argue that such policies undermine human rights and are legally unsustainable[2]. The policy debate centers on the fine line between national security and immigration control and international and national obligations to protect asylum seekers[3].
- Christian Schaft of Thuringia's Left state party criticized Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his continued rejections of asylum seekers, labeling Merz's approach as "lawbreaking with announcement."
- Despite the Berlin Administrative Court's ruling that the rejection of three Somalis at the border was unlawful, Friedrich Merz remains confident that room for maneuver still exists in carrying out border rejections, confirming his commitment to enforcing strict immigration policies.
