Kretschmer sees statements taken out of context
But Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) sees Witschas’ statements shortened, he told MDR SACHSEN. You have to look at the context of the asylum accommodation. “It is very obvious that there is an abridgement, a video that is completely out of context,” said Kretschmer. People who come to Saxony are “decently accommodated” and receive the care and support that is necessary.
Kretschmer spoke out in favor of accommodating refugees in community accommodation in order to organize social and medical care and a constitutional process. Everywhere in Germany there is a discussion about using gyms to accommodate those seeking protection. “We don’t want that in Saxony. We deliberately want to organize other forms of accommodation.”
Saxony’s Commissioner for Foreigners: Witschas renders a disservice to the district
On the other hand, the Foreigners’ Commissioner of the Free State, Geert Mackenroth (CDU), spoke out in favor of decentralized accommodation for refugees because that would be better for the integration of families in particular. Witschas is doing the labor market in the district of Bautzen a disservice, since his statements also prevent foreign workers from taking up residence and work in the district of Bautzen.
Superintendent puzzled by message and timing
The superintendent of the church district of Bautzen, Tilmann Popp, is surprised by the statements made by the Bautzen district administrator. “I asked myself whether the question of refugees is the biggest problem in our district,” says Popp, referring to the number of asylum seekers in the district. In 2016, four times more refugees were admitted than now.
The superintendent observes that more people in the Bautzen district are concerned about the integration of refugees – more than in other districts. But he also notes that the district of Bautzen “has by far the smallest number of decentralized accommodations”. During his time as a student chaplain in exchange with asylum seekers, Popp made the experience that encounters enrich, prejudices and worries break down.
That is why the Superintendent believes housing asylum seekers in apartments is a good way to allay fears. “I think the decentralized accommodation is more of a form of bringing about pacification than leading to an escalation,” explains Popp. The district of Bautzen is not exhausting its possibilities for decentralized accommodation of refugees, according to the superintendent.
District office responds with a statement
The district office made it clear on Wednesday afternoon in a press statement on the district administrator’s Christmas speech: “The district will of course fulfill its humanitarian and legal task of accommodation and take in people who are legitimately seeking protection.” The district office pointed out that “a greatly reduced version of the video” was used in the social networks, which left out the actual context.