The joint vote of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) with the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) on measures against migrants caused a scandal in the Bundestag. For the first time in post-war history, a right-wing political force helped a centrist party form a majority, Deutsche Welle reports.
Bundestag passed controversial migration policy
By a margin of three votes, the Bundestag approved a resolution demanding passport controls on Germany’s entire external border, banning undocumented people from entering the country, strengthening police powers to expel illegal immigrants and increasing the number of deportations.
It was preceded by a two-hour debate with shouting and insults. After the results were announced, Bernd Baumann, a spokesman for the AfD, announced the beginning of a new era in Germany, led by his party. He said:
“And you, Mr. Merz, can still follow us. If you have the strength.”
Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the CDU. had previously said he regretted bringing the AfD to his side.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, accused the conservatives of breaking their own promises, as they had previously said they would refuse to co-operate with the AfD in principle.
Left Party called fellow citizens to the barricades, after which the meeting was suspended.
Earlier, the American media wrote that Friedrich Merz “flirts” with the right-wing AfD. Merz himself denied this.
The discussion about tightening migration policy in Germany heated up after the attack in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria on January 22 when a man and a child were killed and several other people were injured. The suspect was 28-year-old Afghan Enamullah O., who, according to the Bavarian Interior Ministry, had to leave Germany because he was denied asylum in June this year.
The day after that incident, Merz presented a five-point plan to tighten Germany’s migration policy. It calls for the introduction of permanent controls at Germany’s borders, as well as refusing entry to those who do not have permission to stay in the country.
Last year, the German authorities took a number of measures to tighten migration policy. From September 16, 2024, Germany introduced border controls at all internal borders for six months. Berlin has also started negotiations with the authorities of Syria and Afghanistan on the consistent deportation of refugees, in particular “Islamist rapists,” who pose a danger to these countries.
On August 30, for the first time since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, Berlin expelled 28 Afghans convicted in Germany to that country.
The decision to temporarily close the borders caused discontent among Germany’s neighbours. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that “this is a de facto large-scale suspension of the Schengen zone.”
Under the Schengen agreement, controls at internal borders are only allowed as a last resort. Previously, the regime could be extended for a maximum of two years, but in May the European Council approved the possibility of extending it for three years if there is a threat to a country’s security, linked in particular to terrorism, organised crime or sudden large-scale unauthorised movements of citizens from third countries.
Trump prepares facility at Guantanamo for 30,000 migrants
Donald Trump’s rise to power signalled a new anti-immigrant policy in the western bloc. Trump said he signed an executive order on January 29 to prepare a 30,000-person migration centre at the Guantanamo Bay base to hold detained illegal migrants.
The US leader said:
“Today, I’m also signing an Executive Order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”
According to him, the camp will hold “the most dangerous illegal criminals.” Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is home to the US naval base of the same name, which became a prison for international terrorists after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Human rights activists have repeatedly criticised the facility for torture against prisoners.
On January 27, the new US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that the Pentagon would provide all necessary resources to control the border between the US and Mexico, including additional troops. Trump said he wants to finish building the wall on the Mexican border.
Earlier, the Trump administration allowed illegal migrants to be deported without trial and also announced the resumption of the “Stay in Mexico” programme, which was cancelled by his former US president Joe Biden.
