Bumpy Beginnings for the New Feds: Merz's Government Struggling to Find Footing
System malfunction persists; functionality yet to be restored.
In a surprising twist, Germany's federal government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU, is off to a rocky start. The recent chancellor election, which required a second round, has raised doubts about the coalition's stability. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, however, remains optimistic, reassuring viewers on popular talk show Illner that they've managed to overcome initial challenges and solve problems constructively, crafting a preventative plan against repeating such incidents.
Katharina Dröge, the Green parliamentary group leader, sees things differently. She asserts the coalition's sluggish start is under a bad omen, emphasizing the need for a united front to steer clear of future turbulence. Political scientist Julia Reuschenberg suggests that while the recent events have left some marks, the coalition has managed to maintain democratic order.
Left-Wing Coalition? Not so Fast
The new Chancellery Chief Thorsten Frei has hinted at the Union reconsidering the incompatibility decision regarding the Left party. Dobrindt, however, is skeptical. While the government requires the support of the Greens and the Left for certain projects, co-legislative projects with the far-right AfD remain out of the question. Dobrindt insists incompatibility decisions will stand, with the potential for exceptions for procedural matters. Tensions among the coalition partners threaten to escalate, according to Melanie Amann from Der Spiegel, who accuses the Union of equating the Left with the extremist AfD.
Droge calls for clarity in the Union's handling of the AfD, and utters criticisms about Jens Spahn, pointing out the alleged presence of Spahn-led factions in the Union who align closer with the AfD. Spahn denies these allegations, highlighting sympathies among key Union figures who oppose extremist ideologies.
Overhauling Migration Policy
In migration policy, Dobrindt has already enacted changes. To strengthen border controls, federal police officers will work up to 20 additional hours per week in the coming weeks. Despite this, critics argue that train station security will suffer as a result. Dobrindt has also made clear that asylum seekers can be rejected by the police at the border, with exceptions for vulnerable groups. This move has sparked controversy and raised questions about Europe's migratory policies and Germany's role within them. Droge claims Dobrindt is potentially breaking European law by rejecting asylum seekers at the border, while Dobrindt asserts that these measures are necessary to correct Germany's perceived magnetic effect on migrants and to establish a functional EU migration system.
Source: ntv.de
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- The Left
- CSU
- CDU
- Migration
- The European Parliament and the Council, along with the Commission, may find the incompatibility decision regarding The Left party under review by Germany's CSU and CDU as hinted by Chancellery Chief Thorsten Frei.
- Political scientist Julia Reuschenberg, commenting on general news, believes that the coalition between the CSU, CDU, and the Alliance 90/The Greens is managing to maintain democratic order despite initial politically turbulent events.
- Members of the European Union, particularly those in EC countries, are also keeping an eye on Germany's migration policy, as expressed by Katharine Dröge of the Alliance 90/The Greens, who claims that Alexander Dobrindt's measures potentially breach European law on asylum seekers.
- In an effort to improve Germany's migration control mechanisms, Alexander Dobrindt has been actively using communication tools like Whatsapp to coordinate policies and legislation with his coalition partners, as reported by various general news outlets.
