Migration: Kretschmer accuses government of late action

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer has accused the traffic light government and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) of hesitancy on the issue of migration. "It is bitter that the situation always has to escalate like this before action is taken in Germany," the CDU politician said on Sunday. Only now, when the numbers are so large and the pressure from abroad is increasing, is the federal government acting, he said. This is not a good concept.

"One must not become active only when the problems are so big that they can no longer be overlooked," Kretschmer criticized. Reasonable, serious action, he said, means taking action when a situation develops. "Now so many people are also on their way from Africa because they have noticed, you can come to Germany." Because of a lack of deportations and a lack of consequences, the problem has again become so big that it is a huge burden on society.

"The stronger control of the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic should have taken place months ago," Kretschmer stressed. In parallel, he said, there is an urgent need for the designation of North African countries as safe countries of origin - then deportations there will be easier. The prime minister also called for support at the Polish-Belarusian border. He also said there must be active talks about reducing social benefits for non-recognized asylum seekers to a comparable level throughout Europe.