Chaos at the German Border: Merz and Dobrindt's Rocky Start Revolutionized
Relocation Over a Century isn't Feasible
The newly formed German government is having a rocky start, with communication mix-ups and statements that leave more questions than answers.
Off the bat, the government hasn't earned many brownie points. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, fondly referred to by his boss Markus Söder as the "Law-and-Order Minister," has been stirring up quite a fuss at home. While his counterpart, Friedrich Merz, was making international visits, Dobrindt was busy at home, doling out orders from the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Politics Government Gaffes on Illner "This Start is Under a Bad Omen" First off, federal police are expected to work longer hours at the borders: 60 hours a week for three weeks, and after that? We'll see. Is this a sign of what's to come?
More federal police will be sent to the border. But who will secure airports, train stations, and other important inland locations while border controls are being strengthened? Once again, we'll see.
What Now?
The next move pertains to asylum seekers at the borders: Can they, should they, or must they be expelled? Dobrindt's response on Maybrit Illner's ZDF show on Thursday evening was ambiguous: "So far, they couldn't be expelled, now they can." But they don't have to. Absence of clear guidelines leaves much to the imagination. All that's clear is, "Vulnerable groups" - children and pregnant women - will not be expelled. Yet, the parents of the children and male escort of pregnant women? You guessed it; we'll see.
Politics Dobrindt Embraces 12-Hour Shifts, Federal Police Prepares Border Controls To add fuel to the flames, Chancellor Merz couldn't comment on the issue until returning from international locations. The situation seems unclear, with one arm not knowing what the other is doing. Eventually, the government spokesman chimed in, hinting at Dobrindt's declaration of a state of emergency to combat illegal migration. However, Dobrindt himself later clarified that no such declaration has been made.
A Hundred Days of Immigration Chaos?
"Let's just dive in," demands CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann when faced with criticism of the coalition. He finds criticism pointless initially, as he made clear to ARD on Wednesday evening. After a hundred days, they can reassess. But that logic is flawed. If a government aims to make an impact, it should be able to do so immediately - or not govern at all.
Every new hire is expected to deliver peak performance shortly after onboarding, or they'll be let go swiftly. The Union parties have been asserting for three and a half years that the responsible parties of the traffic light coalition are amateurs when it comes to immigration policy. So one can expect they have prepared themselves for the first day at work - and at least to steer clear of hasty decisions and contradictory communication.
Politics Dobrindt Misses the Mark While Dobrindt aims for quick victories, his initial moves have been far from successful. Had he taken a moment to carefully consider his decrees, no one would have questioned him. The lapse in time between the end of the traffic light coalition on November 6 and the current start of the new government could have benefited the coalition without causing much delay.
Dobrindt would be wise to cool his heels a bit. And hope for some guidance from Merz, who plans to present a government declaration in the Bundestag on Wednesday. The volatile Chancellor election is sending its regards, hoping that this new government doesn't end up as another laughing stock.
- The federal government's contradictory employment policies, as demonstrated by Alexander Dobrindt and Friedrich Merz, have led to confusion and questions about community policy regarding immigration and border control.
- The uncertainty surrounding Merz and Dobrindt's immigration policies, particularly with regard to the expulsion of asylum seekers, has created potential risks for vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women.
- The lack of clear guidelines and communication within the federal government, as well as the robust statement by Chancellor Merz about the state of emergency to combat illegal migration that was later challenged by Dobrindt, highlights the political challenges facing the new government.
- In light of the volatile nature of the recent Chancellor election and the rocky start of the new government, it is crucial for both Merz and Dobrindt to take a measured approach to policy-making, focusing on effective communication and the avoidance of rash decisions, as they face general-news scrutiny in the coming weeks and month.
