Former Federal President Joachim Gauck commented on migration policy and called for a “new determination”. In the ZDF program “Berlin Direkt,” Gauck spoke out in favor of remaining “open and inviting.” At the same time, he called for the population’s concerns about a loss of security and manageability to be taken seriously. Otherwise there is a risk of a further shift to the right.
Gauck referred to the policy of the Social Democrats in Denmark, which pursues a strict immigration policy. Many people would have been shocked, especially progressive people. However, it was possible to keep a national populist party below three percent. “That means: We have to discover scope that we initially dislike because it sounds inhumane,” said the former head of state.
Gauck said he came to the conclusion “that perhaps it is not morally reprehensible at all and that it is even politically necessary to pursue a limitation strategy.” Politicians must recognize “that the measures taken so far have not been sufficient to remedy the loss of control that has obviously occurred.”
In an emotionally heated debate, the former Federal President takes a position in favor of those who want to control and limit immigration more closely. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), among others, called for this in the Picture on Sundayan “integration limit of a maximum of 200,000 migrants”.
There is clear criticism of this from the traffic light coalition but also from the CDU. “It doesn’t work from a purely legal perspective,” said the SPD parliamentary group’s domestic policy spokesman, Sebastian Hartmann World, “What should we do with the 200,001st person? Deny him the examination for the right to asylum enshrined in the Basic Law?” CDU MEP Dennis Radtke said Augsburg General: “The demand for an upper limit has already led the CDU and CSU to the abyss.” In 2017, the dispute over an upper limit on immigration paralyzed the CDU/CSU parties for months.
The number of asylum seekers has risen sharply this year. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, around 204,000 people applied for asylum in Germany for the first time between the beginning of January and the end of August. The federal government is therefore considering additional border controls and classifying other countries as safe countries of origin. Cities and municipalities have repeatedly complained that, in view of the increasing numbers, they are reaching their limits when it comes to the accommodation, care and integration of refugees.
There are also efforts in the EU to seal itself off more against migrants. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Lampedusa on Sunday with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The small Mediterranean island that belongs to Italy has long been the focus of debate. Last week, more than 7,000 refugees arrived there by boat in one day. The number of asylum seekers across Italy this year is around 120,000.
Meloni, who leads a right-wing coalition and is also under strong pressure within her own ranks, wants to prevent migrants from Africa from crossing to Europe by boat more strictly than before. Von der Leyen promised to support her and presented a ten-point plan. For example, air surveillance in the Mediterranean is to be increased and the coast guard of departure states such as Tunisia is to be upgraded.