German MPs pass motion backed by far-right to limit immigration

Published January 30, 2025
Tino Chrupalla, Alice Weidel, co-leaders of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and Chief Whip of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag Bernd Baumann react, following a vote, after the attacks in Magdeburg and Aschaffenburg, at the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, January 29, 2025. — Reuters
Tino Chrupalla, Alice Weidel, co-leaders of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and Chief Whip of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag Bernd Baumann react, following a vote, after the attacks in Magdeburg and Aschaffenburg, at the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, January 29, 2025. — Reuters

BERLIN: Germany’s parliament narrowly passed a resolution on Wednesday urging tough restrictions on immigration that was especially controversial because it was backed by the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

The motion was brought, ahead of Feb 23 elections, by the conservative opposition CDU-CSU and backed by, among others, the AfD party. That broke a long-standing taboo on cooperation with the anti-immigration party.

Legislators passed it with 348 votes in favour and 345 against, with 10 abstentions.

The vote came days after a knife attack that killed two people, including a two-year-old child, with an Afghan man arrested at the scene.

The resolution lacks the force of law, but calls on the government to launch permanent border controls and for the “rejection of all attempts to enter the country illegally without exception”.

It says this should include those seeking protection because in the neighbouring EU countries they arrive from, “they are already safe from persecution”.

The resolution also argues that people required to leave Germany “must be taken into custody immediately”, adding that more detention centres should be built, including in empty army barracks.

It labelled as “clearly dysfunctional” the existing European regulations on migrants and asylum seekers.

The motion also criticised the AfD, which it accused of “using the problems, worries and fears caused by mass illegal migration to stir up xenophobia and spread conspiracy theories”.

Despite this clause, the AfD voted in support of the resolution, along with the FDP, helping it to pass despite the strong opposition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Mineral wealth
Updated 10 Apr, 2025

Mineral wealth

The Baloch unrest is partly the result of the belief that the province’s resources are being used for the rest of the country rather than for Balochistan’s economic development.
Senate shortfalls
10 Apr, 2025

Senate shortfalls

THE latest Citizens’ Report by Pildat on the performance of the Senate of Pakistan is a sobering account of...
Crypto coup
10 Apr, 2025

Crypto coup

IT is quite the coup. One of the most recognisable names in the global cryptocurrency market has been roped in by ...
Following through
Updated 09 Apr, 2025

Following through

Reconciliation, development, and deradicalisation initiatives cannot remain dormant words in a policy document.
Robe rebellion
09 Apr, 2025

Robe rebellion

THE unrest within the Islamabad High Court shows no sign of abating, and it is perhaps just as well that the ...
Fearing birth
09 Apr, 2025

Fearing birth

AMID dramatic aid cuts, the WHO has sounded the alarm about the dangers to Pakistan’s mothers and newborns, asking...