EU country plans to ban all illegal immigrants
Radical plans have been drawn up by the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Party aimed at drastically reducing migrant numbers in the country. New government figures show that the number of refugees in Germany hit record levels last year, with around 3.48 million people living across the nation in 2024, an increase of approximately 60,000 from the end of 2023.
With immigration issues taking the spotlight ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for February 23, the debate has intensified following several high-profile violent incidents.
In a striking political manoeuvre, Friedrich Merz, who is aspiring to be elected Chancellor, pledged to present proposals in parliament that would seek a comprehensive embargo on illegal migration into Germany.
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One of his proposed measures includes a call for an immediate national emergency and a complete closure of Germany's borders, requiring guards to thwart "all attempts at illegal entry, without exception", reports the Express. He also aims to empower the federal police with more authority to detain and swiftly remove those who are in the country illegally.
Merz declared his commitment to these proposals: "Next week, we will introduce motions in the German Bundestag that are exclusively in line with our convictions," adding, "And we will introduce them regardless of who agrees with them."
Merz's latest proposals have drawn fierce criticisms from detractors, levelling at him the charge of pandering to the far-right sentiments of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Despite the pushback, a recent poll published by the German tabloid 'Bild' indicates that the majority of Germans might be in favour of his stringent measures on illegal immigration. In an INSA-conducted survey, an overwhelming two-thirds majority reportedly backed Merz's strict stance on immigration policy.
As things stood on 20 January, the CDU and its Bavarian counterpart, the CSU, were leading in the Politico Poll of Polls with projections showing that 30% of the electorate could back them in the upcoming election.
On the flip side, the AfD party, which enjoys backing from tech magnate Elon Musk, has witnessed a rise in popularity; around 20% of respondents expressed their intention to cast their vote for the party.
However, Left Party representative Clara Bunger refuted the sense of urgency highlighted by immigration issues, arguing that the data exhibits no national crisis in Germany.
She underscored that refugees only constitute a minor 4% of the entire population, with many having resided in the country for a considerable length of time. "Such scaremongering deliberately distracts from actual social problems and uses fear to make refugees a scapegoat," she further contended.
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