The current German coalition government has recently made decisions on both domestic and foreign policy that ignore the will of the people and common sense. Its migration policy, in particular, has created social disasters and absurd situations. A practice has emerged where German laws – regardless of the issue – apply only to the native population, while largely illegal migrants face fewer restrictions. Similarly, a series of counterproductive decisions have demonstrated the German government’s “missteps” in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Perhaps the most self-defeating measure was cutting off its own economy from access to cheap Russian energy.
However, in recent days, a surprising reversal has emerged, following significant losses for the government parties in the latest state elections. A truly ominous sign for them is the continued rise of the AfD party, prompting them to make decisions that deviate from their previous policies in an attempt to slow the AfD’s growing popularity. Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, it’s also possible that new impulses have come from the American administration, given the upcoming presidential election.
Among the concrete measures is a proposal recently submitted by the German coalition government to parliament, which would allow for the accelerated deportation of illegal immigrants and the introduction of stricter measures to curb the increasingly frequent knife attacks carried out by migrants. This follows a stabbing on August 23 in Solingen, where a 26-year-old Syrian man killed three people.
Another measure, which has even sparked anger in Brussels, is Germany’s decision to reinstate border controls with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark for six months starting on September 16. These checks complement existing restrictions on the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. The aim of the measure is to reduce illegal migration and the accompanying rise in Islamist terror attacks.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, German investigators looking into the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline two years ago have accused Poland of being involved in the explosion and aiding the suspected perpetrator’s escape to Ukraine. The prime suspect (Volodymyr Zhuravliov), a Ukrainian diving instructor who had previously lived in Poland, is believed to have carried out the attack with five other Ukrainians. The Poles may have helped train the divers and assisted in their escape to Ukraine. Poland, of course, denies everything and has called the allegations Russian disinformation. The real disinformation, however, is the idea that a few divers could have carried out the bombing.
The most regrettable aspect of these measures is that they are not the result of a political narrative shift by the current left-leaning government, but rather “preventive” steps intended to weaken the AfD’s rise and convince voters that the AfD is not a political alternative. Observing this charade, no one should have any illusions: if the current government remains in power after next year’s elections, the measures now being announced will quickly find their way into the trash bin.
Translated and edited by L. Earth
