The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has expressed support for proposals to restrict migration and has called on the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) to cooperate. Reul believes that citizens “have a right to expect that the civic forces show they can do it and that we can prove we don’t need the AfD” by passing these measures, he stated in the ZDF’s “Heute-Journal Update”. He emphasized the need for discussions on the “details” but added, “We still have a bit of time until Wednesday.”
The CDU’s chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, had previously called for a tougher approach to migration policy after the Aschaffenburg knife attack and presented a five-point plan. This week, the CDU and the Christian Social Union (CSU) plan to submit bills to the Bundestag. Reul stated, “We must, of course, ensure that we don’t let in more people than we can care for in the long run.”
The interior ministers, who met on Monday to discuss migration, reportedly share a common understanding on the main issue. However, there are different views on the methods, such as permanent border controls. “That’s only natural, as we have politically different opinions on this” Reul said.
Regarding potential legal challenges to the proposed measures, Reul stated, “If it’s a matter of legal dispute, we may need to have it clarified.” The “contentious discussion” that has been ongoing for years, leading to inaction, ultimately leads to citizens “getting angry and voting for the AfD. So, that can’t be the right answer” the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia concluded.