Row erupts in Germany over “illegal migration” from “safe countries”
Politicians in Germany argue whether North African countries, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco should be considered as safe countries when discussing asylum seekers, The National reports, September 8.
The recent debate on the migrant issue sparked backlash amongst members of parliament in the country.
In central and western Europe in particular, immigration has been high on the political agenda. Countries such as Hungary, Austria, and Poland have taken a hardline stance on the issue.
Germany’s opposition, The Christian Democrat Union (CDU), wants migrants from the three Maghreb countries as well as India, added to a list of “safe countries” meaning asylum claims of people from those countries can be dismissed as invalid.
The CDU’S leader, Friedrich Merz, claimed that acceptance rates for asylum seekers from the four countries were less than one percent.
The CDU (centre-right party) is the political party of veteran German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who stepped down at the last set of Bundestag elections in 2021. Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) have been in power since.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock objected to the deportation proposals by the Conservative opposition, affirming that the CDU “must have missed” the recent arrests of dissidents in Tunisia.
READ: Tunisia: Dissidents face legal woes as judge hands out arrest warrants
12 prominent political figures were arrested in the North African country for allegedly forming a terrorist alliance to conspire against the state.
Onlookers have claimed that the dozen arrests were political and yet more evidence that an under-pressure Saied is attempting to stifle opposition to him and his government.
Recently, President Kais Saied said that there would be crackdowns on internet users who criticise him and government officials.
The President also claimed last month that those who post and share criticism on social media are, “creating chaos and destabilising the country”.
READ: Tunisia: Saied turns the screws on those who criticise him online
Germany’s hard-right AFD party have capitalised on discontent towards immigration in the country. The party has seen their poll numbers shoot up.
Figures for the first half of 2023 conclude that 350 Algerians, 123 Tunisians, 115 Moroccans and 68 Indians were sent packing from Germany.
Separate proposals were made in Germany to lengthen immigration detention from 10 days to 28 days as well as widening police search powers in an attempt to accelerate deportations.
THE NATIONAL
