German Parliament Approves Motion to Close Borders to Asylum Seekers
A barbed wire fence in front of the German flag. X/ @Craft8431
January 29, 2025 Hour: 1:58 pm
The decision was supported by Christian Democrats, Bavarian Christian Socialists, and the far-right Alternative for Germany.
On Wednesday, the Lower House of the German Parliament approved a non-binding resolution proposing to close the borders to asylum seekers.
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A total of 348 deputies voted in favor of the resolution put forward by the union of Christian Democrats and Bavarian Christian Socialists (CDU-CSU), while 345 legislators voted against it, and ten abstained.
The motion calls for the permanent introduction of border controls, the indefinite detention of individuals awaiting deportation, and the rejection of undocumented foreigners without exception, even if they express their intention to apply for asylum—a measure that contravenes European law.
During the heated parliamentary debate preceding the vote, the proposal was supported by the Liberals, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), and the populist left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). In contrast, the Social Democrats, the Greens, and The Left voted against it.
Immediately after the vote, the head of the Social Democratic parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, described it as a “turning point” in German politics. He stated that by accepting votes from the far right for the first time to secure a majority, the conservatives had abandoned the “democratic center.”
Christian Democratic leader and candidate Friedrich Merz stated that he “regretted” that a majority had been achieved with AfD votes. However, he insisted that the duty of the other parties was not to “evade their responsibility.”
Just a few weeks ago, Merz had categorically ruled out any form of cooperation with AfD. However, following the attack in Aschaffenburg by an Afghan asylum seeker—who stabbed a two-year-old child and a 41-year-old man in a park—the Christian Democratic leader announced that, as head of government, he would enforce a stricter migration policy.
On Wednesday, the CDU-CSU alliance also introduced another motion to expand the powers of authorities to strengthen domestic security. However, this proposal was rejected with 509 votes against.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
