Instead of cash for asylum seekers, a payment card without a transfer function: The federal and state governments had agreed on this, and the states have regulated the awarding of contracts. But now there is a problem in the coalition.
A federal regulation for the planned payment card for asylum seekers is still in limbo. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin that he assumed that the Greens would support the formulation help from the Federal Ministry of Labor for such a regulation. Green party leader Ricarda Lang explained that all legal options already exist. In doing so, she reiterated statements made by Green Party politicians that no federal regulation was necessary.
The SPD and FDP increased the pressure on the Greens. SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert said that Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the 16 Prime Ministers had agreed on a very clear procedure for the payment card. The federal government has promised to make the necessary legal changes. He expects all three government parties “to now stand by this compromise.”
Djir-Sarai: Greens’ objection “annoying process”
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai said there had been an agreement within the coalition and with the states. It is all the more annoying when a coalition partner thinks he has to stand in the way. It is also about the federal government’s ability to act. “That’s why it’s an incredibly annoying process. This attitude is not productive. And accordingly, it needs to be corrected quickly.”
At the end of January, 14 of 16 federal states agreed on a joint procurement process to introduce a payment card for asylum seekers, which should be completed by the summer. Among other things, the card is intended to prevent migrants from transferring money to smugglers or to their family or friends abroad.
Green Party leader Lang said she could not understand the excitement in this debate. The introduction is already underway, Hamburg and Bavaria have launched cards, and the tendering process for the remaining fourteen federal states is already underway. Even when asked repeatedly, Lang did not cite any substantive concerns about a federal regulation. The introduction was decided months ago. “I don’t think we’re actually talking about whether a payment card should come or not,” she said.
Hebestreit explained that there was an urgent desire from the regional group to make the payment card legally secure and to bring about a small change in the law to clarify this. There is also a formulation aid. This will be decided in the cabinet and then discussed in the Bundestag. “The legal agreement that is at stake is so narrow that I don’t believe that there should be so much dispute.”
Merz: Responsibility for disagreement with Scholz
Meanwhile, CDU leader Friedrich Merz criticized the lack of unity in the government when it comes to curbing irregular migration. “The Greens are blocking everything they can, including the agreements made in the coalition, which contributes to a quicker solution to this problem.” Merz warned: “As long as the magnet of Germany is not switched off, we will not solve the problem in Germany.” Chancellor Scholz is responsible for this because he allows decisions not to be fully implemented.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt accused the Greens of not wanting to reduce the pull factors of illegal migration, but rather maintaining them. “With this ideological policy, the Greens are pushing the excessive demands on municipalities and the polarization in society ever further to the extreme,” he told the German Press Agency. Chancellor Scholz must speak out.
Source: Stern
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