Migration: FDP and CSU tighten the tone in the asylum debate

CSU party leader Markus Söder has called for a “Germany pact” in the fight against unregulated migration in Germany. Experts are expecting up to 400,000 asylum applications this year, said Söder after a meeting of his party executive committee in Munich. He repeated his call for an upper limit of around 200,000 asylum seekers per year in the Federal Republic. “There needs to be an integration limit as a guideline for our country,” said Söder.

The number of asylum seekers in Germany rose continuously, while the numbers in neighboring Austria, for example, fell. Migration is therefore not only a European but also a national question. If the number of refugees is too high, integration will no longer be affordable, said Söder, referring to the capacities of daycare centers and schools. “A fundamental change is now needed,” he emphasized.

He rejected allegations that the suggestions were due to the upcoming state elections in Bavaria. “Lampedusa has no state elections in Bavaria,” said Söder, referring to the Italian Mediterranean island where a large number of refugees from North Africa are currently arriving.

Chip cards instead of money for rejected asylum seekers

Söder had previously announced in “Bild am Sonntag” that rejected asylum seekers in the state would soon no longer be given money, but rather chip cards for limited purchases of certain goods. He also announced a program so that asylum seekers can do more community work until their residence status is decided. This involves work in construction yards or parks. “This should be done everywhere in Germany,” said Söder around three weeks before the Bavarian state elections.

FDP proposes payment card for asylum seekers

The FDP, meanwhile, is proposing to establish a nationwide payment card that asylum seekers can use to cover their daily retail needs. In contrast to the payment of money, no remittances to countries of origin would then be possible, according to a decision by the party leadership. “This would eliminate a significant incentive to enter the social systems,” argues the FDP in its paper entitled “Combat and noticeably reduce irregular migration more effectively in a constitutional and orderly manner.”

The party also calls on states and municipalities to take advantage of the opportunity to rely more on benefits in kind instead of cash for asylum seekers with little prospect of staying. Instead of transferring money for bus and train tickets or cell phone credit, you can provide tickets or prepaid cards directly.

FDP: Expand the list of safe countries of origin

The FDP also repeated its proposal to declare Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria as so-called safe countries of origin in order to speed up the asylum procedures for citizens of these North African states. However, the Greens had already rejected this proposal several times. FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai said: “Yes, we have a conflict within the coalition, especially with the green coalition partner, but that is something that, in our view, is central and a necessity, and that is why we are also pursuing this intensively How to fight and conduct the dispute within the coalition.”

The EU border protection agency Frontex should “in the future also take over sea rescue in the Mediterranean and the disembarkation of those rescued to safe third countries with migration agreements,” the paper continues. From the FDP’s perspective, support measures should also be expanded to encourage people who have to leave Germany to leave Germany voluntarily.

The FDP warned that social cohesion was in danger of breaking down if it was not possible to distribute those in need of protection more fairly throughout Europe and to significantly reduce the number of unjustified applications. At the same time, she called for more speed in the implementation of the plans that had already been decided to facilitate labor migration. In order to speed up the issuance of visas for skilled workers, additional capacities would have to be quickly created at German missions abroad and procedures digitized.