Immigration Control Bill Rejected by Bundestag
The proposed bill to strengthen immigration controls in Germany has been rejected by the Bundestag. The bill, which was supported by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Alternative for Germany (AFD) party, was voted down by 349 votes to 338, with five abstentions. The rejection of the bill is seen as a significant setback for Friedrich Merz, the CDU candidate who is currently the favorite to become the next German chancellor.
Details of the Proposed Bill
The proposed bill, known as the “Law of Limitation of Influence,” aimed to ban the entry of people without valid documents and to arrest those who are legally obliged to leave the country. The bill also sought to give the Federal Police a more significant role in deporting individuals who are considered “deportable.” The proposal was met with criticism from various parties, including the Green Party and the Left Party, who argued that it was too harsh and would lead to human rights violations.
Reaction to the Rejection of the Bill
The rejection of the bill has been welcomed by some parties, including the Green Party and the Left Party. Britta Haßelmann, a member of the Green Party, stated that it was good news and that the rejection had exposed “large cracks” in the democratic center. On the other hand, the AFD party has been seen as the only winner of the day, with its parliamentary representative, Bernd Baumann, stating that the party had managed to influence the debate on immigration.
Implications of the Rejection
The rejection of the bill is expected to have significant implications for the upcoming federal elections in February. The debate on immigration is likely to continue, and the parties will need to navigate the complex issue in order to win over voters. The rejection of the bill may also lead to a re-evaluation of the alliances between parties, with some parties potentially being seen as too close to the far-right AFD party. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining how the debate on immigration will affect the popularity rates of the parties and ultimately the outcome of the elections.