migration
Merz: Restrict benefits for those required to leave the country for longer
“We cannot give any incentives to stay if there is no right to stay in Germany,” says Friedrich Merz. photo
© Ronny Hartmann/dpa
Friedrich Merz is urging Chancellor Scholz to take action on the issue of migration and was irritating with statements about dental treatment for rejected asylum seekers. Now the CDU leader has a new proposal.
In the opinion of the CDU leader, health care for rejected asylum seekers should be provided Friedrich Merz will only be expanded much later than currently. In an interview with the Editorial Network Germany (RND), Merz pointed out that, according to the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, those required to leave the country are entitled to extended benefits after 18 months. “This period should be extended to at least three years,” demanded the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag.
“We must not give any incentives to stay if there is no right to stay in Germany,” argued Merz. “The message to the 300,000 rejected asylum seekers is currently: You just have to stay long enough and things will get better for you in Germany. We have to correct that,” warned the CDU chairman.
According to the Central Register of Foreigners, around 304,000 people were required to leave the country at the end of 2022, around 248,000 of whom had a toleration permit. Tolerated people are people who are obliged to leave the country but cannot be deported for certain reasons. This could be because they do not have any identification documents, are sick or have a minor child who has a residence permit.
Currently, foreigners who are required to leave the country and tolerated migrants only have a limited right to health care during the first 18 months of their stay; they are not legally insured during this time. After the so-called waiting period, they are looked after by the statutory health insurance companies and receive almost the same benefits as those with statutory health insurance.
Merz: Expect a clear message from the Chancellor
A few days ago, Merz triggered strong reactions with statements about dental treatments for rejected asylum seekers. The CDU leader is also urging Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to talk about migration policy the day after the state elections in Bavaria and Hesse on Sunday.
In the RND interview, Merz appealed to the Chancellor to send a clear signal to potential migrants without grounds for asylum. “The Chancellor must send a clear message to the outside world that also reaches the refugees’ countries of origin: that Germany is no longer able to accept people without grounds for asylum,” emphasized Merz. “This message is necessary to give a clear signal to the people who only now want to get going,” added the CDU leader. At the moment the impression is that “we are ready to accept practically unlimited amounts”.
At the same time, Merz dampened expectations of a European asylum reform. “We shouldn’t expect too much from the reform. In Europe, the wheels grind slowly,” said the group leader. On Wednesday, the EU Commission announced that the EU states had reached a common position on a central point of the reform. This is about a crisis regulation that, among other things, deals with protection standards for refugees and strict border procedures. Merz pointed out that the reform still had to go through the EU Commission, European Parliament and European Council. He does not expect a common European position before the middle of next year. Merz viewed the reform as an important piece of the mosaic. “But national and domestic policy measures are also needed,” he made clear.