Aschaffenburg: SPD Prime Minister Rehlinger warns of Merz plans

Saarland’s Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger has accused Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz after the act of violence in Aschaffenburg, only relying on “foreclosure and deportation”. “We need a common European asylum policy and not a single-handedly that relies exclusively on foreclosure and deportation,” said the SPD politician of the star To Merz ‘plans for migration and asylum policy.

Applicable solutions would have to be found within the framework of the common European asylum system (GEAS) and the European external borders would be better protected together, Rehlinger demanded “instead of now making demands within the Schengen area that could destroy the achievements of a Europe without internal limits.” On Tuesday, Rehlinger had left for her first trip abroad as President of the Federal Council to Paris and Warsaw to set a sign of the Warsaw triangle in Europe.

Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz had requested fundamental changes in migration policy and announced far-reaching tightening in asylum policy if he was elected as a chancellor. On the first day, he wanted to instruct the Ministry of the Interior in office to control all borders permanently and reject all illegal entry. This also applies to people with a right to protect. “There will be a factual ban on entry into the Federal Republic of Germany for everyone who does not have valid entry documents or that make use of European freedom of movement,” said Merz.

The EU asylum rules are recognizable dysfunctional. “Germany must therefore exercise its right to priority in national law,” said Merz. Deportations and returns would have to “take place daily” and the number must finally be larger than the number of those who are still illegally travel every day. Merz also called for the federal police to apply for arrest warrants. Any criminals and dangers subject to exit must be able to be taken in permanent exit arrest.

In Aschaffenburg, a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man were killed and three people were seriously injured. A 28-year-old is suspicious with Afghan citizenship who was arrested. According to Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Hermann (CSU), he was subject to departure.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, SPD, pointed out a course of his government that has already been taken on for easier deportations and criticized failures in the implementation. “There are obviously enforcement deficits, especially in this case with the Bavarian authorities who are a big problem,” said Scholz in Erfurt. “Therefore, it must stop now that not everyone does everything that you do not attribute those who cannot stay here.”

Criticism of Merz’s advance also came from the Greens. Group manager Irene Mihalic said an entry ban on the TV station “Welt”: “Friedrich Merz knows very well that what he demands is not to be agreed with European law and also with the applicable constitutional law.” Green Chancellor candidate Robert Habeck said: “Everything that promotes security in the country and is in accordance with European law and is on the ground of our Basic Law is a good suggestion.” Some suggestions that he heard from Merz would not have been able to do an objective examination.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said that one had to clarify whether what Merz announced was permitted. “I would say no.” If promises were not met, trust destroy. Faeser emphasized that the government had “massively exacerbated” laws for the expulsion of violence and for more deportations.

Border controls can be arranged for a limited period in the Schengen area. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has already implemented and announced this for all land borders to want to extend it beyond March 2025.