The federal CDU has sharply criticized the controversial statements by Bautzen district administrator Udo Witschas on the accommodation of refugees. “We emphatically distance ourselves from the choice of words,” said CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja of the German Press Agency. He spoke expressly on behalf of party leader Friedrich Merz, the entire executive board of the federal party “and the Christian Democrats in Germany”.
In a Christmas message, Witschas said that refugees in the district should not be housed in gyms or in decentralized accommodation. “It is not our intention to let sports, whether school or leisure sports, bleed for this asylum policy,” Witschas said in the video published on Facebook. In addition, the district office does not want to “accommodate people who come to us, who do not know our culture, who do not know our regulations, here in apartment buildings and vacant apartments and accept the threat to social peace”.
After these statements, Czaja emphasized: “We as a Union have a very clear, unambiguous and deeply humane attitude, which is supported by the dignity of every human being, which must also be untouchable in language.” He added: “People seeking protection in our country deserve our help, our care and are treated with respect and decency. We are democrats and Christians and stand by our responsibilities.”
Witschas had previously defended himself on his Facebook page and criticized a shortened presentation on social media. It is not generally about the accommodation of asylum seekers, but about the specific effects of the district council decision in which another planned community accommodation in Hoyerswerda was rejected. He wanted to respond to the concerns of sports clubs and tenants.
Discussion about accommodation
Saxony’s CDU state leader and Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer also spoke of a shortened presentation after the video became known. The statements were taken out of context, creating a false context. “The people who come to us now are housed decently and are looked after here according to the best standards. That’s not a question at all.” Kretschmer is a member of the federal executive board as deputy CDU chairman. It is unclear whether he agreed with Secretary General Czaja’s later widespread statements.
The Prime Minister spoke out in favor of accommodating refugees in community accommodation in order to organize social and medical care and a constitutional procedure. 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.”
On the other hand, the Free State Commissioner for Foreigners, Geert Mackenroth, also a CDU politician, argued in favor of decentralized housing for refugees because that would be better for the integration of families in particular. Witschas is doing the job 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.