New Security Measures in Germany Attempt to Score Points Ahead of Elections

Die Linke (The Left) party spokesman Martin Bialluch called new security measures proposed by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere "a political action to gain scores ahead of the upcoming elections for the parliaments on state and national level."

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — New security measures proposed by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere are only a political step to score points ahead of national and local parliamentary elections, Die Linke (The Left) party spokesman Martin Bialluch told Sputnik on Friday.

The proposed measures, devised in response to recent terrorist attacks in Germany's Bavaria in July, include steps to make it easier to deport migrants deemed to be a threat to public security, stripping dual nationals who fought for terrorist organizations abroad of their German citizenship, banning the burka and loosening medical confidentiality.

"It is just a political action to gain scores ahead of the upcoming elections for the parliaments on state and national level. The politicians try to make an impression that they are doing something to increase security, but in fact they don’t," Bialluch said.

A survey of public broadcaster ZDF’s Politbarometer revealed earlier on Friday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s public support has dwindled since last month amid concerns about the implications of her open-door migrant policy and the high terror threat in the country.

The next German federal elections to the Bundestag, while yet to be scheduled, should take place no later than October 22, 2017.