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24 Jan

Leading German Candidate Advocates for Permanent Border Controls

The frontrunner in the race to become Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has pledged changes to the country’s migration policy, among them the introduction of permanent border controls.

Merz’s comments followed the case of an asylum seeker from Afghanistan who was taken into custody after a knife attack in Aschaffenburg on Wednesday, January 22, which left two people dead, Schengen.News reports.

“An Unbelievable Act of Terror” 
On January 22, a 28-year-old suspect was taken into custody after a knife attack, which left a 41-year-old man and a two-year-old boy dead, while two others were seriously injured. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the attack “an unbelievable act of terror”.

He also met with the heads of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Police at the Chancellery, and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

The motives behind the act are still unknown, and police officials in Bavaria have already begun investigations. 

Border Controls May be Extended Beyond March 
On September 16, 2024, Germany informed the European Union regarding its decision to implement controls at all land borders. 

Germany argued that this step was a measure to combat irregular migration and further enhance national security. 

Authorities in Germany said the decision would be kept in place until March 15, 2025. However, the Interior Minister of Germany, Nancy Faeser, in December last year, considered this measure effective in helping curb irregular migration. 

Therefore, the Minister said that controls at Germany’s land borders may be extended beyond mid-March.

Tightened Border Controls by Schengen Countries to Deal With Irregular Migration 
Irregular migration and terrorism concerns are among the reasons that have led several Schengen Zone countries to implement border controls. 

The countries that have recently notified the EU regarding this decision are Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and France.

Source: https://schengen.news/leading-german-candidate-advocates-for-permanent-border-controls/