Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has announced plans to impose tough border controls if he becomes chancellor. He cited a deadly knife attack in Bavaria, allegedly carried out by an rejected asylum seeker, as the justification for his proposed migration overhaul. Merz, a potential leading candidate in next month’s snap federal election, presented a five-point plan that includes a “de facto entry ban” and permanent border controls.
The incident occurred in Aschaffenburg, where a 2-year-old boy and three others were injured after an attack. The suspect, arrested shortly afterward, is a 28-year-old Afghan man with a history of psychiatric issues and violence who reportedly planned to leave Germany voluntarily. Merz’s plan has faced criticism from political opponents for being legally contentious and impractical to implement, including for its incompatibility with migration laws and international agreements like the Geneva Convention.
The Greens deputy leader in the Bundestag, Konstantin von Notz, described the measures as “neither constitutional nor European law compliant.” Meanwhile, Saarland’s SPD premier, Anke Rehlinger, emphasized that Germany should align its migration policy with other EU countries. The country’s largest police union also criticized border controls for being impractical, noting Germany already has extensive internal borders.
Merz, however, called EU-wide rules “recognisably dysfunctional” and said he would push through his plan if elected. The snap election is set for 23 February, with polls suggesting the CDU will win with a minority mandate, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) trails behind the SPD in recent surveys.
Despite opposition from other parties, Merz said agreement with his plan would be necessary to form a coalition after the vote next month. He also claimed his migration overhaul should be debated before the election begins.
Merz has ruled out working with the controversial AfD, which supported his proposals but later claimed they had been put forward first by their own party. The CDU confirmed it would submit its migration proposal for a vote in parliament and was prepared to collect support from other parties if needed.
The SPD government criticized Merz’s plan as “electioneering,” accusing him of manipulating the debate over his proposals. However, mainstream parties feel pressure to comply with stricter policies due to growing discontent over migration, fueled by opinion polls showing public frustration with integration efforts and bolstering support for anti-immigration groups like the AfD.
The attack in Bavaria followed stabbings in Karlsruhe last week, further fueling anti-immigration sentiment across Germany. No further deportations to Afghanistan were reported since August last year, despite Merz’s proposal calling for more flights to the country. Authorities have seen a 30% decrease in asylum applications compared to the previous year, with fewer irregular arrivals.
Deportation numbers also show a slight decline, but authorities remain focused on reducing irregular migration while addressing security concerns. The government is working to deport more criminals to Afghanistan as part of its strategy.
In summary, Merz’s proposed border controls face significant political and practical challenges, with his plan gaining traction ahead of the crucial election next month.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/24/playing-with-fire-orbans-sanctions-veto-threat-puts-brussels-on-edge