Firework bans and deportations: The new laws German ministers could put forward
The spring conference of Germany's interior ministers - of both federal and state governments - is set to open on Wednesday evening in Bremerhaven.
According to reporting by the German Press Agency (DPA), discussions on electronic ankle bracelets for violent offenders, the fight against sexual violence against children and how to deal with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) are on the agenda.
Other topics include strengthening civil protection and civil defence, betting in amateur sports and dealing with New Year's Eve fireworks.
The conference, which was founded in 1954 and usually happens twice a year, is intended to promote political cooperation between Germany's state and federal governments. The conference can pass resolutions that inform initiatives to be carried out in the coming months.
Recently appointed Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), is expected to announce when the next deportation flight to Afghanistan is scheduled following the conference.
Free rides for police officers
According to DPA, there is broad agreement on nationwide measures to improve safety on trains.
Among them is a recommendation to allow federal police officers to use trains free of charge even when not in uniform.
How the officers should identify themselves during ticket inspection was a recent the subject of discussions.
Continued border checks and deportations
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told the
Augsburger Allgemeine
that they would also "talk intensively about the current refugee situation..."
"We must continue the migration turnaround," he added.
This includes the implementation of further border controls, which has recently become a point of contention between judicial and executive authorities.
READ ALSO:
How long can Germany keep its tighter border controls in place?
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Saxony-Anhalt's interior minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) praises the tightened border controls, but adds that, "It is clear that further measures must follow." Namely she wants to see more deportations of "dangerous persons" and criminals, including to Afghanistan and Syria.
Since the Islamist Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, Germany had ceased deportations to Afghanistan - with one exception in August last year when 28 offenders were flown to Kabul.
Stricter limits for fireworks
The states would like to see more options for firework prohibition zones.
This year's chairman of the conference, Bremen's interior minister, Ulrich Mäurer (SPD), told the
Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland
: "I would prefer to ban private New Year's Eve fireworks."
Together with Berlin Mäurer has proposed that cities should have the power to ban fireworks where they cause problems.
How to deal with the AfD
Notably, a discussion of an AfD party ban is not on the agenda.
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On Tuesday, ahead of the conference, federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he opposes a ban on the far-right party despite the BfV domestic intelligence service labelling it an "extremist" group.
Such a ban could be applied for by the federal government, the Bundestag or the Bundesrat. In the end, the Federal Constitutional Court would have to decide.
However, Dobrindt and several CDU interior ministers want to end the ban debate, suggesting that a ban could fuel support for the party and that it must instead be defeated politically.
With reporting by DPA.
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