CSU for the "toughest course" when it comes to migration

SOURCE: DW- AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

The Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) is calling for a significant tightening of migration policy just before the federal elections. In future, immigrants should only be allowed to stay in Germany if they can prove they have adequate income. This is stated in the party's position paper, which the CSU federal deputies will discuss in a closed meeting next week.

Anyone who wants to stay here permanently must make a long-term contribution and must not permanently use social services, the party document states.

"Anyone who commits a crime will be expelled"

The document emphasizes the close connection between migration policy and internal security. In order to strengthen internal security, "an extremely strict policy of return from the borders, ensuring protection in third countries and consequent deportations are needed," Alexander Dobrindt, the head of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told the Rheinische Post.

The expulsion of criminals and those who pose a security threat is discussed in detail: "In future, the principle must apply: anyone who commits a criminal offence will be expelled." The document also states: "Anyone who commits a criminal offence or multiple criminal offences must leave our country."

It also states that all those who cannot leave the country or are deported "will have to be detained indefinitely until deportation."

Return from the borders

According to the CSU, the first measure that the future Federal Minister of the Interior should create is the possibility of return from the borders: "In order to maintain internal security and public order, we have the right to carry out the return of migrants at national level, and we must use this possibility."

According to the position expressed in the document, the CSU wants to "implement a de facto ban on the entry of illegal migrants". In order to do this, the party wants the police to be put in a legal and technical position "to be able to scan the mobile devices of everyone who wants to enter the country at the borders".

Expand video surveillance

Video surveillance, it is said, should be significantly expanded, and for this purpose, an automatic facial recognition system should be used in public places where there is a risk of danger. Last year alone, three major attacks took place in Germany, in Mannheim, Solingen and Magdeburg.

"The main political priority now should be to prevent such attacks in the future", the "Rheinische Post" quotes another document with decisions. This also includes the use of an automatic facial recognition system at train stations, airports and other crime hotspots "to identify serious criminals", the CSU demands.

SPD: Proposals difficult to implement

The SPD has been sharply critical of the CSU. "The CSU is once again crossing the line and pandering to the AfD," SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese told the Rheinische Post. "The proposals are legally difficult to implement and ignore our humanitarian obligations."

Dirk Wiese also expressed doubts about "whether these poorly conceived proposals will make it more attractive for experts and workers to come to Germany."

CSU for close cooperation with the US

In a second document with conclusions intended for a closed meeting next week, the CSU parliamentary group aims to reorient German foreign policy and work closely with the new US government if the CDU/CSU wins the federal elections on February 23. "We want to remain a close and trusted ally of the US and further strengthen the transatlantic partnership," the Rheinische Post quotes the document as saying. "To do this, we will abolish the ideological and pedantic tone of the left-green foreign policy."

The closed meeting of the CSU parliamentary group in Seeon begins on Monday and will last until Wednesday.