BERLIN - Ricarda Lang, lawmaker from the Greens, on Thursday censured the new leadership in Berlin for creating chaos and confusion after the country took stricter measures against asylum seekers at borders.
The German government has announced plans to turn away undocumented immigrants, including asylum seekers. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated earlier this month that exceptions would be made for “vulnerable groups,” such as pregnant women and children.
The rejection of asylum seekers remains legally contentious. According to the coalition agreement between Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc and the Social Democrats, any such measures should be coordinated with neighboring countries.
“This has primarily created chaos and confusion,” Lang told Rudaw on Thursday, referring to the measures at the border.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Ricards Lang:
Rudaw: What changes have taken place on German borders in the last eight days?
Ricarda Lang: This has primarily created chaos and confusion. Alexander Dobrindt, the Interior Minister, cannot decide whether he has declared a European and national emergency or not, whether he wants to violate European law or not. Those who suffer first from this chaos are refugees. We need to clarify here that what this new government has planned regarding immigrants is truly inhumane and a complete violation of human rights. This means that people, whether they have the right to asylum or not, are being rejected at the borders. Another thing that has happened now due to these controls is that citizens and residents of border areas are now facing heavy traffic at the border. Companies also cannot deliver goods on time because they need more time at the border. In the end, he has only created chaos and harm for those who come and those who were already here.
The interior ministry has deployed an additional 3,000 policemen, meaning there are nearly 14,000 federal policemen to control borders. Can Germany deport people who have applied for asylum?
I really wonder where they got these police officers from and where they reduced their numbers. Because we have a shortage of police forces in Germany. I wish they would patrol our cities, provide security there, and be able to carry out their duties. It's not without reason that the police union has continuously pointed out that these border controls are a burden for them and ultimately have very little benefit.
Germany's neighbors are concerned. How do you, as an opposition party, want to confront the new government's actions?
We are raising our voices loudly, both for human rights and European cooperation, as well as for responsible government. We ally ourselves with European partners who also don't want European unity to be weakened now. Of course, we stand beside those who are currently being harmed. In recent years, we must critically admit that even under the Ampel government, refugees have continuously been made into enemies and held responsible for social problems, whether it's housing shortages or issues in the education system. We must not allow this. Because the politics of creating enemies, the politics of blame, has ultimately not built any new villages or reformed our education system. We need real solutions, not more enemies.
