The Bundestag of Germany rejected a bill that aimed to significantly strengthen the country’s migration policy by a majority vote. The proposed changes were initiated by the opposition from the CDU/CSU but did not receive the necessary support. During the vote on January 31, 2025, 338 parliamentarians voted “for,” while 350 voted “against,” and five deputies abstained.
Main Provisions of the Bill
The bill titled “On Limiting the Influx of Illegal Migrants from Third Countries” included the following changes:
- Granting the federal police the right to deport foreigners who are in the country without permission.
- Temporary suspension of the family reunification process for individuals with subsidiary protection.
- Enhanced border control and expanded powers for law enforcement agencies.
Despite heated debates, the majority of deputies did not support the initiative, citing concerns that the changes could violate the rights of refugees and contradict the German Constitution.
Discussions and Voting Delay
The discussion before the vote lasted longer than planned. The session was delayed for 30 minutes at the request of CDU/CSU representative Torsten Fray, who wanted to hold additional consultations within the faction. Ultimately, negotiations with CDU leader Friedrich Merz stretched for nearly two hours.
Border Control: What Did the Conservatives Propose?
Two days earlier, the Bundestag approved a five-level plan to strengthen control proposed by the conservatives. It included:
- Continuous border control at Germany’s borders.
- Rejection of asylum seekers at the border.
- Detention of illegal migrants whom authorities have mandated to leave the country.
However, further strict restrictions, including expanding police powers, were not supported by the majority.
Migration policy after the attack in Aschaffenburg
The issue of strengthening legislation became even more acute after the tragic incident in the city of Aschaffenburg. On January 22, a 28-year-old Afghan citizen, who had been detained by the police several times before, attacked a group of children in a local park. As a result of the attack, a two-year-old child and a 41-year-old man were killed, and three other people were injured.
The suspect did not have the right to stay in the country, as he had voluntarily withdrawn his asylum application. Despite previous displays of aggression, he had been sent to a psychiatric clinic three times, each time being released without further restrictions.
Political consequences of rejecting the bill
The refusal of the Bundestag to adopt a new law has sparked sharp debates in the German political sphere. Conservative forces consider this decision a threat to public safety and emphasize the need to strengthen migration policy. On the other hand, the government coalition, which includes social democrats and the Greens, advocate for maintaining the right to asylum and call for exploring other ways to address illegal migration issues.
The discussions on this topic are ongoing, and the issue of migration policy remains one of the key points on the agenda ahead of the early elections in Germany.
Conclusions
- The Bundestag did not support the bill to strengthen migration policy.
- Debates intensified after the attack in Aschaffenburg.
- Conservatives insist on stricter restrictions, while government parties support the current legislation.
- The issue of migration remains crucial in Germany’s political agenda.
Will Germany change its approach to migration after the upcoming elections? This question remains open.
