Chancellor Olaf Scholz's main challenger in Germany's upcoming election is set to present proposals for a stricter migration policy to parliament on Wednesday. This move is aimed at increasing pressure on the governing parties and has sparked accusations of breaking commitments to avoid aligning with the far right.
The opposition leader has shifted the focus of the campaign to migration following a recent tragic knife attack in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, by a rejected asylum-seeker, resulting in the deaths of a man and a 2-year-old boy.
The upcoming German parliamentary elections on Feb. 23 come after Scholz's three-party coalition government collapsed. Current polls indicate that the mainstream center-right Union bloc, led by the challenger, holds around 30% support, with the far-right Alternative for Germany following at about 20%. Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and the Greens trail behind.
Migration, along with Germany's economic challenges, has been a significant election issue. The challenger aims to position the Union as decisive in seeking a tougher approach to migration, aligning with the central call of the Alternative for Germany, while portraying Scholz and the Greens as weak.
The challenger's proposals include immediate border control by the Interior Ministry to prevent illegal entry, including by asylum-seekers. He also advocates for stricter measures against individuals who are supposed to leave the country.
The nonbinding motions to be presented in parliament this week are intended to send a political signal, although they will not alter German law. The current minority government, comprising the Social Democrats and Greens, opposes the challenger's proposals, citing legal concerns.
The challenger's stance on working with the far-right party remains firm, emphasizing that his party will not collaborate with the Alternative for Germany. He aims to gain support from the political center through his migration policy proposals.
The recent attacks in Aschaffenburg, Mannheim, and Solingen involving immigrants have fueled the debate on Germany's asylum and immigration policies. The outgoing government highlights changes made to tighten laws and control borders, emphasizing a decrease in asylum applications and an increase in deportations.
As the political landscape evolves ahead of the elections, the debate on migration policy continues to shape the discourse among German voters and political parties.
