Is the federal government calling the mediation committee to save the blocked part of its “security package”? It’s about further powers for the security authorities. The Union wants more.
The federal government has not yet decided whether it will appeal to the mediation committee about the part of its so-called security package that was overturned in the Bundesrat. “The federal government has an interest in ensuring that this cabinet decision that has been made becomes law and is implemented and can be applied as quickly as possible,” said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin.
The government said internal coordination was still ongoing on how the traffic light government would now deal with the rejection in the Federal Council and the associated demands of the state governments led by the Union.
The Bundestag approved the package, the Bundesrat rejected parts
The Bundestag approved the “security package” approved by the SPD, Greens and FDP after the knife attack in Solingen last week after a controversial debate. On Friday, however, the Federal Council stopped the part that concerns plans for the security authorities to compare biometric data on the Internet.
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 themselves would have had to make the order for a maximum of three days.
Union makes demands
Union politicians spoke out in favor of more extensive powers for the security authorities and, in this context, renewed their call for a new, legally harmless form of obligation to store IP addresses.
The Bundestag and the Federal Government can appeal to the Mediation Committee regarding the failed “Law to Improve Counter-Terrorism”. The committee is made up of representatives from the Bundestag and Bundesrat and can look for solutions in such cases. The state chamber passed a second law with regulations on benefits for asylum seekers and knife bans on Friday.
The federal government’s so-called security package is disappointing, half-hearted and incomplete, said Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck. A mediation process offers the opportunity for corrections. The CDU politician calls, among other things, for regulations on the storage and use of traffic data and IP addresses – also to combat terrorism.
Here, the FDP in particular is on the brakes within the traffic lights. Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) favors the quick-freeze procedure. The data is only saved if there is suspicion of a crime of significant importance – such as murder or manslaughter.
Poseck further said that the intelligence services also need additional powers on the dark web. “Terrorist activities are usually prepared there. Our intelligence services need the means to decrypt crypted communications.”
The Green Party leader Omid Nouripour said that the traffic light was generally “ready to talk”. However, the prerequisite for a successful agreement would be that the proposed measures are practical, efficient and legally harmless. The Union often acts according to the motto “We have thought about something, and that is the only thing that applies and everything else doesn’t,” criticized the co-chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens. In this way you will not achieve more security.
Faeser wants to speak to representatives of the federal states
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) criticized the Union’s position. “It is irresponsible to stand in the way like the Union does without any reasonable reason. We will now continue to discuss this with the states,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) to the “Rheinische Post”.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr also opposed the Union’s proposals. “If the Union is now proposing data retention for no reason instead of the targeted quick-freeze procedure, it reminds me very much of the encroachments on freedom during the corona pandemic,” Dürr told the dpa. “But we don’t need any measures that are directed against innocent citizens.”
Source: Stern
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