Several federal states have made demands in migration policy. Now the FDP is taking this up – and is putting pressure on a coalition partner.
Berlin – The FDP wants to enforce a tougher course in migration policy in the traffic light coalition. According to information from the German Press Agency, the parliamentary group executive committee decided on a nine-point paper at the weekend, which was first reported by “Bild am Sonntag”.
Less benefits for those forced to leave the country, more safe countries of origin: The FDP’s demands are likely to put pressure on the Greens in particular. Because they take up suggestions from black-green governed federal states. “There is now an opportunity for noticeable changes in migration policy and it would be irresponsible to let this opportunity pass by,” says the FDP paper.
Liberals talk about “migration change”
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr told the German Press Agency: “If the federal and state governments work hand in hand, we have the chance of a real turnaround in migration.” The Greens and CDU had cleared the way in the states. This is a strong signal, because until recently it was unthinkable that the Greens would consider expanding safe countries of origin. “Now the question arises as to how the Greens will behave in the federal government,” emphasized Dürr.
The coalition partner SPD reacted skeptically. It is important to wait for the ongoing discussions on the so-called security package, said deputy parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese “Welt”. In it, the government made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP wants, among other things, to cut benefits for people whose asylum procedures another state is responsible for. “We should be careful not to overturn the tone in the debate,” warned Wiese. In the end this only strengthens the right edge. “We need clear regulations, but also the openness to see migration as an opportunity for the labor market.”
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich reacted angrily to the Liberals’ new initiative. “That’s annoying me now,” said Mützenich on the ARD program “Report from Berlin.” The FDP is obviously an expert at giving new public information in the debate every weekend.
More states should be considered safe
The nine-point paper specifically calls for an examination of safe countries of origin, which not only takes into account the so-called Maghreb states in northwest Africa, but also India, Colombia and Armenia. Asylum applications from people from safe countries of origin can be rejected more quickly.
The federal government alone should be responsible for the return of asylum seekers who are obliged to leave the country to other EU member states. There should be better cooperation with the airlines. The federal police should be able to apply to the court for detention pending deportation and detention on departure. People who publicly endorse terrorist crimes should be able to be deported more easily.
Services: bed, soap, bread
The FDP also wants benefits for asylum seekers who are required to leave the country to be reduced even if they are not in the Dublin procedure. This determines which European country is responsible for an asylum procedure. In many cases, this is the state in whose territory those seeking protection first set foot on European soil.
“In the future, the benefits for all asylum seekers who are obliged to leave the country should be reduced to the bed-soap-bread minimum,” said Dürr to “Bild am Sonntag”. “In this way we ensure that there is no longer any incentive to stay.”