German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned against the misuse of a violent incident in Aschaffenburg for populist purposes. “It’s about action, about enforcing the law” Faeser said at a press conference on Thursday. “I can only warn strongly against using such a heinous act for populist purposes. It only benefits right-wing populists with their disregard for human life.”
Earlier, Union’s Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz had stated that, if elected, he would instruct the Interior Ministry to establish permanent border controls with neighboring countries. He plans to implement a “de facto entry ban” for all individuals without valid travel documents, including those with a right to asylum. The Federal Police would also be involved in deportations in the future.
Faeser, however, advocates for the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). “In my view, it is now crucial that the system, namely the common asylum and migration law, which we successfully negotiated in Europe, is implemented in Germany as quickly as possible” she said. “This means not taking individual measures beforehand and for that, I really ask all factions in the German Bundestag: The federal government has delivered, the draft bill is available for the implementation of the law into national law. This would provide better possibilities for action, especially in cases of failed Dublin procedures, as quickly as possible.”
The Bavarian authorities should explain why the perpetrator was still at large despite multiple violent crimes, Faeser said. It appears that some things have gone wrong in Bavaria as well. “That’s why I find the reaction of the Bavarians puzzling” Faeser said, addressing the CSU.