“Security package” partially stopped by the Federal Council

The “security package” of the traffic light coalition partially failed in the Federal Council. A law that had recently been passed by the Bundestag and which required approval to provide more options for the security authorities did not receive a majority in the vote in the state chamber in Berlin. However, the Federal Council passed a second law with regulations on benefits for asylum seekers and bans on knives.

The law, which the state chamber rejected, is about more options for the security authorities. They should be given the authority to match biometric data on the Internet in certain cases. However, searching for faces and voices using an automated application should only be permitted if the President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) or his representative has this approved by a court. If there was imminent danger, the BKA boss or one of the three deputies would have had to make the order themselves for a maximum period of three days.

The stop causes trouble for the SPD. Secretary General Matthias Miersch accuses the Union of “political games” and tactics. “The Union constantly talks about how urgently we need to act in the area of ​​internal security, but in the Federal Council they are blocking the security package for tactical reasons,” he told the star. “You risk that there will be no necessary improvements for our security authorities – only for short-term political games.”

Miersch criticized the fact that the Union was not interested in solutions. “If you want to take on serious responsibility, you shouldn’t constantly throw sand in the works, but rather work constructively,” he said.

Security package receives criticism from countries

In the previous debate in the Federal Council, representatives of Bavaria and Berlin made their rejection of the plans clear. The head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, Florian Herrmann (CSU), criticized the package as inadequate and spoke of gutted regulations. Irregular migration will not be combated in this way. Proposed knife bans are purely symbolic politics. In contrast, Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) emphasized that the package was a suitable response. He called for people not to unnecessarily prevent increased security and powers for the police if it wasn’t enough.

The Federal Council allowed the other part of the “security package” to pass. Asylum seekers for whose protection requests another European country is responsible for under the so-called Dublin rules should be excluded from state benefits – if it is legally and actually possible for them to leave the country. There should be exceptions if children are affected. In addition, knife bans in public spaces are to be expanded.

Note: This article has been updated.