Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly criticized the current government's approach to handling asylum seekers at the country's borders. Merkel emphasized the importance of providing an asylum procedure to anyone who requests it at the border, aligning with her interpretation of European law. This stance marks a clear divergence from the policies of the Interior Ministry under the new coalition government, which has been implementing stricter border controls and rejections.
Merkel's comments came during a meeting with former refugees, organized by the West German Broadcasting Corporation (WDR). She argued that the right to an asylum procedure is fundamental, even if it means conducting these procedures directly at the border. Her remarks reflect a broader debate within Germany and the European Union about how to balance migration control with humanitarian obligations.
The Berlin Administrative Court recently ruled against the Interior Ministry's practice of rejecting asylum seekers at the border, specifically in the case of three Somalians who entered Germany via Poland. Despite the court's decision, the ministry, led by Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, maintains that this was an isolated case and continues its current border policies. This has sparked further controversy and calls for a reevaluation of Germany's approach to asylum seekers.
Merkel's intervention highlights the ongoing tensions within German politics over migration policy, a topic that has been contentious since the significant influx of refugees in 2015. As Germany navigates these challenges, the debate over how to uphold both security and humanitarian values remains at the forefront of political discourse.
In a tragic series of events, the Rhine River in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has once again proven to be a perilous location for swimmers, with multiple fatalities reported over recent days. The incidents have prompted renewed warnings from local authorities about the dangers posed by the...
Siemens AG has announced the appointment of Vasi Philomin, a seasoned AI expert from Amazon, to lead its Data & Artificial Intelligence division starting July 1. Philomin, who previously served as Vice President of Generative AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS), is set to drive the development...
Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defense contractor, has marked a significant milestone in its aviation sector expansion by commencing production of fuselage center sections for the F-35, the world's most advanced stealth fighter jet. This development comes as part of a collaboration with US...
The Munich trial of Alfons Schuhbeck, the once-celebrated chef and restaurateur, has shed light on the dire financial straits that led to his current legal woes. Schuhbeck, who admitted to charges of bankruptcy fraud and misuse of coronavirus aid, revealed in court that he survives on a...
Northern Germany experienced significant disruptions to its rail services, with multiple incidents including embankment fires, an overhead line fault, and the disposal of an unexploded World War II bomb near Osnabrück's main station causing widespread delays and cancellations. The Deutsche...
