SPD politician Maier on asylum policy: „We need to decrease the number of people who come to us.“
Thüringens Innenminister Maier (SPD): »Es gibt eine große Unzufriedenheit mit der Flüchtlingspolitik der Bundesregierung, die auch nicht ganz unbegründet ist«
Foto: Jacob Schröter / IMAGO
„I cannot reword“
„Ich kann es nicht umformulieren.“
Dirk Wiese, the deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group, is open to classifying more countries as safe countries of origin. He considers the recent classification of Georgia and Moldova as a necessary step to „accelerate asylum procedures and reduce irregular migration.“ Wiese stated that it is necessary to examine „which other countries have low chances of success for asylum applications.“ However, he also emphasized the importance of establishing migration agreements on an equal footing with countries in North Africa and elsewhere, both at the national and European level.
Maier warnte zudem vor einem Aus des europäischen Asylkompromisses. »Die Grünen stellen den Beschluss infrage. Wenn er scheitert, sind wir in Europa isoliert und bekommen in Ostdeutschland noch größere Probleme.«
Next year, there will be state elections in Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia. In Eastern Germany, the asylum policy will become a dominant topic in the election campaign, according to Maier, who is also the leader of the SPD in Thuringia. There is a significant dissatisfaction with the federal government’s refugee policy, which is not entirely unfounded.
Maier stated that the costs for refugees amounted to over 50 million euros for the Thuringian municipalities. „This is money that is missing elsewhere. We need to be careful not to let false narratives take hold.“