Merz vows to fight immigration from day one as German chancellor – POLITICO

“From the first day of my term as chancellor, I will ask the Interior Ministry to impose permanent border controls with all our neighbors and refuse any attempts at illegal entry,” Merz said in a speech on Thursday. He promised an “effective entry ban” for people without valid travel documents, including those seeking asylum.

Facing growing political pressure from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has linked rising crime to immigration in its campaign rhetoric, Merz’s hard line on Immigration reflects an attempt to divert support from the AfD and solidify its conservative base. as the elections approach.

Merz highlighted systemic problems with the EU’s migration framework, criticizing the Dublin and Schengen agreements – the bloc’s rules on asylum and passport waivers – as “dysfunctional”. Under his leadership, he promised that Germany would assert the primacy of national law in controlling migration.

Merz characterized the Aschaffenburg attack as part of a broader pattern of violence. “The limit has been reached,” he said, referring to Germany’s reception capacity. “We are faced with the debris of misguided asylum and immigration policy over the past decade. »

In addition to stricter border controls, Merz proposed allowing federal police to issue arrest warrants and detain deportable people until they are deported. “There will be fundamental changes to the laws governing entry, asylum and stay in Germany,” he said.

Asked whether these measures meant a rejection of potential coalition partners like the Greens, Merz dismissed the inquiry. “It doesn’t matter who politically supports this path,” he said. “I will not compromise on these issues.”