German election results and coalition announcements

Merz Pledges 'Entry Ban' on Illegals Using Chancellor's Authority After Attack That Killed Two

Jan 23, 2025, 10:56 AM

Following a deadly knife attack that killed two people, allegedly carried out by an Afghan asylum seeker on a group of children in Aschaffenburg, Germany, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has pledged to implement a 'de facto entry ban' for individuals without valid entry documents if he becomes Chancellor. Declaring 'enough is enough,' Merz announced that on his first day in office, he would use his 'Richtlinienkompetenz' to instruct the Interior Minister to enforce permanent border controls and turn back all illegal attempts at entry. He emphasized that he would not compromise on this policy, stating, 'It is completely irrelevant to me who wants to go this way politically. I will not take any other.' This stance indicates a fundamental shift in Germany's migration policies and may make a coalition with the Greens or SPD unlikely. The attack has reignited the national debate on immigration, with BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht speaking of state failure and FDP Vice Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki expressing concern over possible AfD successes.