Germany’s fractious coalition parties, the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) had issued a joint statement via the press on Wednesday.
The statement was issued in a show of unity when it comes to migration policy, including apparent support for a limit on arrivals.
“The traffic light government and its constituent parties are joining forces to relieve the burden on our municipalities and to better control, order and limit migration.’’
The three party spokespersons jointly told the German newspaper Bild in a statement.
The statement marked a shift in tone from the Greens in particular, who had spoken out in favor of better control of migration, but had avoided committing to an upper limit.
The FDP, on the other hand, have been arguing for a limit for some time, and SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz had also spoken out in favor of this.
The topic of migration would also play a role at the meeting of state-level leaders on Thursday.
Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke said that he would also discuss the conversion of cash benefits into benefits for asylum seekers.
He said that the state of Brandenburg was not alone in this.
States and the municipalities are also pushing for greater financial participation of the Federal Government in the costs of absorbing migrants.
Eva-Maria Welskop-Deffaa, president of the German charity Caritas, scoffed at this idea, telling reporters it was a “phantom debate.”
“Most people do not come to Germany because of the welfare offered.
“But because their livelihoods at home have been destroyed by wars and climate catastrophe,’’ Eva-Maria said.
She told the newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung on Wednesday.
