Chancellor Scholz takes tough stance on migration in Germany

Amid a backdrop of heightened public concern over recent violent incidents and a surge in far-right popularity, the German chancellor has opted for a stringent approach towards migrants convicted of crimes.

The German chancellor's decision to deport migrants who commit crimes comes in response to several notable acts of violence and the increasing support for far-right movements, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

This tough stance on law and order echoes sentiments that have bolstered far-right gatherings from Palermo to Potsdam. 

"It angers me when someone who has sought refuge here commits the most serious crimes," a 65-year-old man with thinning hair declared to his audience, drawing applause as he insisted that violent migrants "do not belong" in Germany. "Such criminals should be deported, even if they come from Syria or Afghanistan."

The surprising declaration did not come from a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) beerhall meeting but from the podium of Berlin's Reichstag. What makes it even more puzzling is that the speaker, who has long defended Germany's open-door migration policies, was instrumental in shaping them.

Introducing the new Olaf Scholz.

Public outcry following a series of prominent killings and violent incidents attributed to foreign suspects has compelled Germany's chancellor to adopt a more stringent stance on migration — at least in his public statements.

As public support for Scholz’s three-party coalition reaches new lows, the chancellor is striving to tackle his most pressing vulnerability: widespread public discontent stemming from a notable influx of asylum seekers and a corresponding rise in crime attributed by authorities to heightened levels of migration.

In response to heightened public concern, Scholz's Cabinet recently supported a draft bill enabling the deportation of foreigners who express approval of acts of terror and violence, even if such expressions occur solely on social media. This legislative move, akin to Scholz's address in the Bundestag, was prompted by the tragic murder of a police officer by an Afghan suspect, a deeply disturbing incident that occurred just before last month's European election. Following the attack, certain radical Islamists voiced support for the killing online, exacerbating national outrage.

However, much like the promise to deport Syrians and Afghans convicted of crimes, the government's approach appears to be more about optics than substantive impact. It reflects a desperate effort to address the rising influence of the AfD, whose members frequently exploit such issues to paint Germany as besieged by violent crime. This strategy is likely to face challenges in achieving meaningful results.

The extent of Scholz's vulnerability on the matter became evident after last month's European election, where the AfD achieved its strongest-ever performance in a national election while Scholz's Social Democrats faced their worst outcome. Another indication of migration's significance to voters — not that Scholz required further confirmation — came with Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party winning in the first round of parliamentary elections in France.