German Gov’t Insists on Stricter Asylum Seeker Laws to Attract More Voters

© AP Photo / Michael ProbstA demonstrator shouts during a protest against the deportation of 50 Afghan asylum seekers at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016.
A demonstrator shouts during a protest against the deportation of 50 Afghan asylum seekers at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The only intention behind the German government’s decision to push for stricter laws on failed asylum seekers was to attract more voters ahead of the September parliamentary elections, a spokesman for the Berlin branch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) right-wing party told Sputnik.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony in Eskisehir, Turkey, March 17, 2017 - Sputnik International
Erdogan Slams Germany for Granting Asylum to Turkish Coup-Linked Officers
BERLIN (Sputnik), Victoria Mladenovich – Last Thursday, the German parliament adopted a package of laws that would tighten rules for asylum seekers who try to dodge deportation or commit crimes in Germany.

"Clearly AfD would support everything that speeds up [failed asylum seekers] expulsion. [But] CDU and SPD only do this because most of it seems popular… Maybe it works out for them, at least a bit. Many voters tend to forget easily. But they are easily upset, too, if they see no immediate progress," Ronald Glaser said.

AfD is looking to get around around 8 percent of the vote in the upcoming German elections alongside The Left party, according to recent polls. The Christian Democrats are eyeing to get just under 40 percent, while the SPD is likely to win over 25 percent of the electorate. Over 20 percent of voters remain undecided.

Migrants arrive at the first registration point for asylum seekers in Erding near Munich, southern Germany, on November 15, 2016 - Sputnik International
German Parliament Passes Stricter Rules for Rejected Asylum Seekers
The German government could have done “much more” regarding failed asylum seekers' deportation within the already existing legal framework instead of insisting on the new laws, according to the spokesman.

“The problem is lack of will, not lack of power,” Glaser explained.

The new rules, which in particular are aimed at speeding up expulsions by allowing authorities to access data stored on electronic devices of undocumented migrants to verify their identities, could be a step toward invading German citizens’ privacy and thus the establishment of a surveillance state, according to Glaser.

"It seems very popular to check the mobile phones of those people [asylum seekers], since they ambush their real identity… But I would nevertheless be careful with that demand. Today our government makes it legal to go through foreigners' mobile phones — tomorrow they do it with ours. We don't want a surveillance state," Glaser noted.

According to the new rules, asylum seekers caught lying about their identity or background may be held at reception centers as long as it needs to process their applications.

The bill will also impose stricter rules on violent migrants and those deemed a security risk. They will be required to wear ankle monitors, while detention time pending their deportation will be extended to a maximum of ten days.

Germany took in 890,000 immigrants during the crisis year of 2015. The Interior Ministry said arrivals dropped to 280,000 in 2016, but it is still struggling to clear a backlog of applications, while addressing security issues related to migrants' stay in the country.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала