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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
German Cabinet approves stricter asylum measures
Representative Image (AI-generated) The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved several measures to tighten Germany's asylum laws, including a plan to make it easier to determine "safe countries of origin" and thus to deport rejected asylum-seekers. This comes after another policy put in place by interior minister Alexander Dobrindt — allowing police to send back asylum-seekers at the border without assessment of their cases according to the Dublin procedure — was deemed unlawful by the Administrative Court in Berlin. What did the Cabinet decide? Dobrindt, a conservative politician from the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), would like to see the government made solely responsible in the future for deciding which countries should be categorized as "safe countries of origin." Under his plan, no approval from Germany's upper house of parliament, or Bundesrat, which represents the 16 federal states, would be required anymore to decide whether there is persecution in a country that would justify granting asylum to people from there. This would reduce the number of people eligible for asylum and make it easier to deport rejected asylum-seekers to their home countries if these were put in the "safe" category. The Cabinet also approved the abolition of a rule calling for people in pre-deportation custody to be automatically be assigned a lawyer by the state. This rule was adopted under the previous Social Democrat-led coalition government at the behest of the Green Party. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Dobrindt said, "These are essential steps that are part of a whole raft of measures to bring about the asylum transformation." The reforms approved by the Cabinet, which are all contained in the government's coalition agreement, still need approval by the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Tougher migration policy faces legal challenges Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who leads the current German coalition government of his conservative CDU/CSU bloc with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), has vowed to crack down on irregular migration — a policy seen by many as a bid to reduce support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been gaining in popularity. His efforts suffered a setback on Monday with the court ruling on border pushbacks but has vowed to continue with the policy "within the framework of existing European law." Criticism from legal experts, human rights groups: Further criticism has also come from legal experts and from human rights groups. The German Bar Association (DAV) argued on Wednesday that the proposed reform of rules governing the definition of "safe countries" would unnecessarily complicate asylum regulations. Christoph Tometten, the DVA's expert for migration law, said that because the planned reform applied to EU law and not the right to asylum enshrined in the German constitution, there would be "unnecessarily complex differentiations" that needed to be made by administrations and courts. This would mean that asylum proceedings could become longer rather than shorter, he said. He was referring to the fact that the German constitution requires the Bundesrat to be involved in categorizing "safe countries," while an EU guideline allows member states to define them by decree — a guideline the German government is taking to argue its case. German refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl called the actions of the government "undemocratic and constitutionally questionable." The organization's spokeswoman on legal policy, Wiebke Judith, said, "The determination of allegedly safe countries of origin and third countries makes it more difficult for endangered people to receive the protection they are really entitled to."
DW
2 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Germany needs up to 60,000 more troops, says defense chief – DW – 06/05/2025
Germany will need up to 60,000 more service personnel to meet NATO's defense goals, according to the defense minister. The estimate reflects growing military demands amid heightened tensions with Russia. Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, will require an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 additional troops to meet NATO's updated defense requirements amid the growing threat from Russia, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday. Germany is seeking to adapt its military posture in response to NATO's plans for collective defense, as the alliance continues to shore up its eastern flank after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We assume, but this is only a rough estimate to be clear, that we need around 50,000 to 60,000 more soldiers in the standing armed forces than we have today," Pistorius said at a NATO meeting in Brussels. How can Germany build up its troop numbers? Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a holdover from the Social Democrat-led government of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has pushed the idea of building up the armed forces. He has promoted a model that relies on voluntary service that also allows the country to make conscription compulsory if needed. Under these terms, all 18-year-olds would be sent a questionnaire about their interest in the army and their physical condition. While all young men would be obliged to return the questionnaire, it would be voluntary for women. A number would then be invited to participate in a selection process. Some would be recruited for an initial six-month period, with the option to extend. Germany had conscription in place for young men until 2011, when the rule was scrapped. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
DW
3 days ago
- General
- DW
German Cabinet approves stricter asylum measures – DW – 06/04/2025
The German government has proposed several new measures as it pushes on with plans to further curb irregular migration. This comes despite a legal setback this week when a court ruled pushbacks at the border unlawful. The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved several measures to tighten Germany's asylum laws, including a plan to make it easier to determine "safe countries of origin" and thus to deport rejected asylum-seekers. This comes after another policy put in place by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt — allowing police to send back asylum-seekers at the border without assessment of their cases according to the Dublin procedure — was deemed unlawful by the Administrative Court in Berlin. What did the Cabinet decide? Dobrindt, a conservative politician from the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), would like to see the government made solely responsible in the future for deciding which countries should be categorized as "safe countries of origin." Under his plan, no approval from Germany's upper house of parliament, or Bundesrat, which represents the 16 federal states, would be required anymore to decide whether there is persecution in a country that would justify granting asylum to people from there. This would reduce the number of people eligible for asylum and make it easier to deport rejected asylum-seekers to their home countries if these were put in the "safe" category. The Cabinet also approved the abolition of a rule calling for people in pre-deportation custody to be automatically be assigned a lawyer by the state. This rule was adopted under the previous Social Democrat-led coalition government at the behest of the Green Party. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Dobrindt said, "These are essential steps that are part of a whole raft of measures to bring about the asylum transformation." The reforms approved by the Cabinet, which are all contained in the government's coalition agreement, still need approval by the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Tougher migration policy faces legal challenges Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who leads the current German coalition government of his conservative CDU/CSU bloc with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), has vowed to crack down on irregular migration — a policy seen by many as a bid to reduce support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been gaining in popularity. His efforts suffered a setback on Monday with the court ruling on border pushbacks but has vowed to continue with the policy "within the framework of existing European law." Criticism from legal experts, human rights groups Further criticism has also come from legal experts and from human rights groups. The German Bar Association (DAV) argued on Wednesday that the proposed reform of rules governing the definition of "safe countries" would unnecessarily complicate asylum regulations. Christoph Tometten, the DVA's expert for migration law, said that because the planned reform applied to EU law and not the right to asylum enshrined in the German constitution, there would be "unnecessarily complex differentiations" that needed to be made by administrations and courts. This would mean that asylum proceedings could become longer rather than shorter, he said. He was referring to the fact that the German constitution requires the Bundesrat to be involved in categorizing "safe countries," while an EU guideline allows member states to define them by decree — a guideline the German government is taking to argue its case. German refugee advocacy group Pro Asyl called the actions of the government "undemocratic and constitutionally questionable." The organization's spokeswoman on legal policy, Wiebke Judith, said, "The determination of allegedly safe countries of origin and third countries makes it more difficult for endangered people to receive the protection they are really entitled to." Edited by: Wesley Rahn
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Romanian top court rejects challenge to annul presidential election
FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate George Simion reacts to first exit polls of Romania's second round of the presidential election, in front of the parliament in Bucharest, Romania, May 18, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki/File Photo BUCHAREST - Romania's Constitutional Court said on Thursday it had unanimously rejected a request to cancel the May 18 presidential election that was won by centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan. Romania's defeated hard-right contender George Simion, who emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of voting on May 4, had filed the request alleging interference by France and Moldova. Election authorities and independent observers have said the election was well-organised. The Constitutional Court, which said Simion's challenge was unfounded, will officially validate the election result on Thursday, with Dan in attendance. The court cancelled Romania's initial presidential election six months ago on suspicion of Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. He was barred from taking part in the re-run. The ensuing institutional crisis - including the fall of the Social Democrat-led government - stalled efforts to reduce Romania's budget deficit, the largest in the European Union, and unnerved financial markets. Romania's European allies and investors welcomed Dan's presidential election victory over the eurosceptic Simion, who has called the cancellation of the initial ballot late last year a "coup" and took over the baton from Georgescu. "The Constitutional Court has continued the coup d'etat by rejecting our appeal," Simion said on social media on Thursday, reacting to the verdict. "Only thing left for us is to keep fighting." ACCUSATION Simion had earlier conceded defeat, after initially saying he won. He later clung onto Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, who accused the head of France's foreign intelligence agency during Sunday's ballot of asking him to ban Romanian conservative voices ahead of the elections. France's DGSE foreign spy agency denied the accusation. President-elect Dan will be sworn in next Monday and will then face the daunting task of nominating a prime minister able to negotiate a ruling majority in a fragmented parliament. "It is certain that Romania will keep its pro-Western direction," Dan told a security conference on Thursday. "Romania has not been sufficiently active in any of these structures (EU, NATO) but to be active you must have credibility. Romania must strengthen itself and be more active." Simion had wanted to end military aid for neighbouring Ukraine in its war with Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- First Post
Scholz's firing of finance minister was his downfall. Here's why it may be his party co-leader's boon
In November 2024, Olaf Scholz's coalition government in Germany fell because he fired his finance minister. Now, his party (SPD) co-leader, Lars Klingbeil, is set to take over the ministry whose €500 billion fund is at the heart of the new govt's economic recovery plan read more German chancellor-in-waiting and CDU leader Friedrich Merz (left) with co-leader of the SPD Lars Klingbeil at a news conference. Image: Annegret Hilse/Reuters Germany is on the cusp of inaugurating a new chancellor, bringing to a close a rather turbulent political chapter that began nearly six months ago with the collapse of Olaf Scholz's government. The collapse was triggered by Scholz's contentious decision to dismiss Christian Lindner, the fiscally conservative finance minister from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), after months of disagreements over Germany's budget planning. Now, conservative leader Friedrich Merz is just days away from being sworn in as Germany's next chancellor, following weeks of intense coalition negotiations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The finance minister for his government has also been decided. The position has become crucial and not just because the previous government had collapsed due to disagreements on finances. The new administration relies heavily on a €500 billion fund to drive its economic recovery plan. The Finance Ministry is going to be in-charge of it. So, who is this new finance minister and what lies ahead for him? Merz's win and tough coalition talks The February snap election, called after Scholz's Social Democrat-led coalition fell apart in November 2024, resulted in Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) emerging on top. Since it fell short of an outright majority, the CDU was forced to court coalition partners. The SPD, despite its losses, became the surprising linchpin in the negotiations. After weeks of backroom talks, the two parties struck a deal that cleared the way for Merz to form a government— with significant compromises on both sides. That change has thrust the finance ministry into the spotlight—and into the hands of SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil. Klingbeil, 47, will become both finance minister and vice-chancellor in the new government. A political scientist by training with no background in economics, he is seen as a shrewd operator who led the SPD's coalition negotiations. He is expected to rely heavily on a circle of economic advisers as he assumes responsibility for managing the massive spending programme and drafting Germany's next two federal budgets, Financial Times reported. Klingbeil replaces Jörg Kukies, a former Goldman Sachs banker who served as finance minister under Scholz after Lindner was fired. Historic budget, historic stakes for Klingbeil Among the most critical outcomes of the coalition agreement is the creation of a €500 billion fund to overhaul Germany's crumbling infrastructure and modernise its armed forces, a historic shift in the country's fiscal policy. To do so, the coalition agreed to ease Germany's long-standing 'debt brake' restrictions, which cap government borrowing. The €500 billion fund is at the heart of the new administration's economic recovery plan. Of that amount, €300 billion is earmarked for federal-level investment in infrastructure and public services, while the remaining €200 billion will support regional initiatives and military upgrades. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Klingbeil will be responsible for shepherding the fund's rollout, having to steer through a deeply polarised political landscape while reassuring both domestic and international markets that the fiscal discipline of Europe's second-largest economy remains intact. It looks very much like a high-risk, high-reward opportunity that could completely change how the German public sees him and his party. Chancellor-designate Merz and Klingbeil are expected to be sworn in next week after the formal signing of the coalition pact.
