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Multicultural society (illustration)
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Since the Taliban took over the helm in Afghanistan and people were fleeing the brutal Islamists, we in Germany have been talking about refugee migration again. Some want Afghans who are threatened to be helped, others that »2015 is not repeated«. This means that the issues of migration, integration and asylum will come back on the scene shortly before the Bundestag election. Before that, surprisingly little was heard of it. Amazing, because only last year the respondents named »Immigration / Integration« in the ARD Germany trend as one of the most important topics - ahead of environmental protection and climate change. In June 2021 it was in second place after climate, on par with Corona and social injustice. It keeps people busy - even without an acute crisis.
Nevertheless, most parties avoided it in the election campaign as long as possible.
Even progressives like the Greens.
Annalena Baerbock said next to nothing in her inaugural address as a candidate for chancellor in the direction of people from immigrant families.
Even their competitors Armin Laschet (CDU / CSU) and Olaf Scholz (SPD) were more diversity-oriented and clearly positioned themselves against racism and for diversity in society.
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The bottom line, however, is that all three have avoided the topic of immigration society until there was nothing else to do.
Why?
Presumably because they fear that there will be no flower pot to be won with it.
The topic polarizes, right-wing shit storms are guaranteed.
But should there really be shirking behind it, that would be extremely short-sighted.
Five reasons why all democratic parties should proactively engage with the immigration society in the election campaign:
Among the people who deal with asylum and refugee migration are by no means only opponents who fear for their privileges or who dream of Germany as an ethnic monoculture.
There are also many among them who want a humane asylum policy, 70-80 percent of the population.
The majority attach great importance to solidarity and charity when dealing with refugees.
Internationally, migration will remain one of the most important topics of the future.
Afghanistan is the best example of this.
Corona, wars, climate catastrophes - these are just a few reasons why migration pressure will increase, no matter how many illegal pushbacks the EU border patrols in the Mediterranean.
In domestic politics, too, there is no alternative to migration.
The bottom line is that Germany will need more immigrants in the future, otherwise the demographic problem - the aging population - will grow over our heads.
The social and health system could collapse.
Immigration is important for the economy.
For years, employers have been complaining about a drastic shortage of skilled workers, which has even increased during the pandemic.
Germany has long been a country of immigration: a significant part of the population has a history of migration itself, specifically one in four in Germany (26 percent).
In the case of children and adolescents, it is even 40 percent.
The voters of tomorrow will not only be affected by climate protection personally, but also fair participation and anti-racism.
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Horst Seehofer on refugees from Afghanistan: "The past has shown that there is always a gap somewhere" An interview by Ralf Neukirch and Maximilian Popp
So where are the parties that offer progressive, sustainable concepts and advertise them publicly?
Where are the chancellor candidates who have a socio-political vision for Germany in the 21st century?
In fact, there is a win with this topic. Around 7.4 million people with a migration background are allowed to vote, that is 12 percent of all eligible voters. According to a recent study, many of them are not committed to one party. Many have turned away from the SPD and preferred the CDU because they feel addressed by Merkel. But Merkel leaves and Laschet is more vying for the right wing of his party than for people who have experienced racism. It could be really worthwhile for the Greens to win the millions of votes from people from immigrant families.
In order not to be unfair: The Greens - like the SPD and above all the Left - have progressive points in their election program, such as a "federal participation and participation law".
The top candidate just doesn't talk about it.
With one exception: when Baerbock presented the program items to the “Turkish Community in Germany” association for specific target groups.
But she has probably regretted that, because the Bild newspaper then announced on page one in ominously large letters “Baerbock's multi-cultural plan”.
"Greens want to ensure the Ministry of Immigration +++ Migrant Quota for Jobs +++ Diversity," it read.
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Annalena Baerbock and Joschka Fischer during the election campaign: "What do you say to a young woman who does not want to live under the Taliban?" By Martin Knobbe
CDU politicians and right-wing media also scandalized the "green immigration ministry".
But what is scandalous about placing migration policy at the ministerial level and promoting anti-discrimination policy, as the EU prescribes?
In addition, the Union is embarrassed to suppress the fact that the CDU candidate for Chancellor Laschet himself was once head of a similar ministry in North Rhine-Westphalia that Jürgen Rüttgers had set up.
Laschet even held a press conference once in an "Orient Lounge", so what?
It is time to finally rethink: With a progressive social policy, you can win more votes in Germany than you can lose.
The parties would know that if they were less impressed by the AfD and its followers and soberly looked at studies and statistics.