A senior German government official has defended recent remarks by a leading politician, sparking debate about the current political climate. Alexander Dobrindt, Federal Interior Minister and a member of the CSU party, stated he considered the sentiment expressed by his party leader, Markus Söder, to be “not entirely wrong”. Söder had previously described the current legislative period as “the last bullet for democracy.
Dobrindt emphasized a perception of Germany approaching a “political tipping point” asserting a course correction is necessary. He appeared to allude to ongoing legal challenges regarding the implementation of policies, particularly concerning asylum seeker rejections.
The Minister cautioned that repeatedly asserting international regulations and abstract European norms necessitate policies that diverge from public will could lead citizens to seek alternative political representation. He noted a shift in public opinion regarding the government’s approach to asylum seeker rejections, stating he initially lacked certainty about public support for such measures but now believes he has it. The comments reflect a growing acknowledgment within the government regarding the need to address public concerns and maintain political legitimacy.