Federal election campaign
Draft election program: Union wants stricter asylum policy
Updated 12/13/2024 – 6:10 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
On Tuesday, the leaders of the CDU and CSU want to adopt the joint program for the federal election. Migration policy plays an important role in the draft.
Immediately after a victory in the federal election in February, the Union will implement a de facto stop in accepting illegal migrants. “To this end, we reject those at the German borders who enter Germany from another EU member state or the Schengen area and want to apply for asylum with us,” says the draft for the joint election program of the CDU and CSU on the subject of migration , which is available to the German Press Agency in Berlin.
The boards of the CDU and CSU want to decide on the election program this Tuesday in Berlin. It is then planned that the chairmen of the CDU and CSU, Union faction leader Friedrich Merz and the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, will present the program.
The Union outlines its migration policy plans in eight points under the title “Stop illegal migration”. These are known claims that are bundled together. Since the Union will probably have to rely on one or more coalition partners after the election on February 23rd, it is unclear whether and to what extent it will actually be able to enforce its demands.
To justify a stricter course in migration policy, the party says that Germany primarily needs skilled immigration. Illegal migration is overwhelming the country and its ability to integrate. The traffic light government ignored calls for help from the municipalities and people's desire for a fundamental change in migration policy. The influx is “too much and can no longer be managed” and strict limits are urgently needed.
If the Union has its way, benefits in kind should have general priority over cash benefits. The payment card is to be introduced “widely and restrictively” in all federal states. “For those forced to leave the country, we base the social benefits on the principle of “bed, bread and soap” and, wherever possible, provide for a complete exclusion of benefits.”
Border controls will link the Union with rejections. The necessary controls should be extended for as long as necessary. “At the same time, we are investing in the most modern border security technology, such as drones, night vision and thermal imaging cameras.” The Union wants to suspend the reunification of family members of so-called subsidiary protection recipients and all voluntary admission programs should be ended.
Subsidiary – i.e. limited – protection applies to people who are not recognized as individually persecuted refugees, but who provide valid reasons why they are at risk of serious harm – for example through civil war – if they return to their country of origin.
The Union also wants to tighten its policy towards refugees from Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, in order to get more people into work. Accordingly, newly arriving refugees from Ukraine should no longer receive citizen's benefit, but rather benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act. The CDU and CSU want to strengthen the procedures for professional recognition and opportunities to learn the German language while working.
In order to speed up asylum procedures and make returns easier, additional countries should be classified as “safe countries of origin” and strengthened readmission agreements should be concluded with the main countries of origin. “Asylum seekers without protection rights must leave our country again. If this does not happen voluntarily, the obligation to leave the country must be enforced by the state,” the draft continues.
At the same time, the Union will introduce central asylum procedures and federal exit centers in order to speed up procedures and make returns easier. “We want to regularly deport people to Afghanistan and Syria – especially criminals and dangerous people,” announce the Union Sisters.
In addition, the federal police must be given the authority to temporarily detain or detain foreigners who are required to leave the country in order to ensure their deportation. Criminals and those at risk who are required to leave the country should be able to be placed in indefinite detention after their detention until they leave the country voluntarily or until they are successfully deported.
