Merz follows up: Traffic light sets "wrong incentives" for migrants - heavy criticism follows directly
Created: 04/10/2022 17:19
By: Felix Durach
CDU chairwoman Friedrich Merz has criticized the federal government's migration policy and spoke of "wrong incentives".
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has again criticized the migration policy of the federal government.
The traffic light creates false incentives for migrants.
Berlin – Just a few days ago, Friedrich Merz caused a stir with his statements about Ukrainian refugees.
Now the CDU chairman is following up again and criticizing the traffic light government for its migration policy.
In an interview, the 66-year-old accused the federal government in Berlin of setting "wrong incentives" for migrants.
Merz follows up on the migration debate – traffic light government sets “wrong incentives”
"The municipalities suffer significantly from the burden of immigration and can hardly cope with it," said the CDU leader in an interview with the
t-online
portal .
That is why we must now seriously talk about what the Federal Republic can still achieve in the future and what not.
Merz criticizes that the "social network" in Germany is very large compared to other European countries and would therefore represent a major incentive for immigrants.
As a current example, the 66-year-old named the introduction of so-called citizen money by the traffic light coalition.
As a result of this measure, “it often no longer pays off for immigrants to take up a simple job.
And that's exactly what really attracts people from many countries," criticized the CDU chairman.
Merz therefore calls for a clear distinction between regulated immigration into the labor market, humanitarian asylum and illegal immigration.
A step that the federal government would not take at the moment, according to the CDU leader.
Criticism of the CDU chairman - Green politician Marquardt accuses Merz of "right-wing populism".
Criticism of the demands of the CDU chairman followed promptly - especially from the ranks of the Greens.
"Merz is using Ukraine's suffering to talk about poverty-driven mass migration, which doesn't exist.
He wants to create envy, win right-wing protest voters and simply accepts the division of society,” wrote MEP Erik Marquardt (Greens) on Twitter, accusing Merz of “right-wing populism”.
In response to Merz's statements, member of the Bundestag Jamila Schäfer (Greens) called for "objective, concrete support for municipalities instead of such rhetorical gaffes".
A few days after the "social tourism" statement - Merz follows up in the migration debate
Merz had already triggered a storm of indignation last week with the accusation that there was "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees.
By constantly traveling back and forth, “a larger number” of them “take advantage” of the direct access to Hartz IV benefits.
Shortly thereafter, Merz apologized for his statement and regretted "the use of the word 'social tourism'".
also read
Ukraine on the march: Even Putin's elite troops have to flee - Putin's order indicates huge deficits
Putin's army seethes after partial mobilization: Apparently a mass brawl in a Russian military base
Green party leader Ricarda Lang wrote on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon with a view to the apology and the new statements by the CDU leader: "After all, we now know what 'apologies' from Friedrich Merz are worth."
(fd)