The Greens and Left have criticized plans of federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) for family reunification for refugees with limited protection status. Parts of SPD coalition partner also said that y did not want to contribute to stricter regulations.

The SPD vice-chairman Ralf Steger said that his party would not participate in "election campaign din for CSU in Bavaria". He warned Seehofer's party against uncoordinated tightening in family reunification. The SPD "does not go beyond coalition agreement", said Steger, who on side of SPD had led coalition negotiations on family reunification.

The domestic political spokesman of Bundestag group, Burkhard Lischka (SPD), also rejected stricter rules in family reunification. In conversation with Rheinische Post he referred to "clear agreement" in coalition agreement between SPD and Union. "The federal Interior minister is refore well advised not to make any proposals that go beyond this agreement and exclude or groups of people from family reunification," Lischka said. The decisive factor for a reunification should be humanitarian reasons, not purse of families concerned.

Seehofer's plans were also criticized by opposition: Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock told editorial network Germany (RND): "Seehofer's criteria are a renewed break with UN Convention on Rights of child." The internal political spokeswoman of left, Ulla Jelpke, said that draft shows how little Seehofer is of fundamental right to family "when it comes to refugees".

On Tuesday, Rnd had reported that Seehofer wanted to establish strict criteria for family reunification: thus, recipients of social benefits such as Hartz IV should be banned from bringing family members to Germany. That is case at moment. For recognised refugees, however, re is "privileged" system of repayment, in which conditions such as income and language skills do not matter.

Baerbock criticized, " family reunification, already shredded in coalition agreement, would be completely dead with exclusion of recipients of social benefits." If efforts of SPD coalition partner for a humane refugee policy were meant to be serious, Social Democrats would have to intervene immediately: Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) must make it clear "that this is not possible".

The family reunification has been suspended for refugees with limited subsidiary protection for two years. It is to be made possible for 1,000 members and hardship cases every month from August. This is what Union and SPD have agreed. The Federal Council and Bundestag had agreed to this.

The proposed law is intended to regulate criteria by which se 1,000 people are selected. According to Rnd report, spouses, parents of children under age and minors of unmarried refugees are to be entitled to a recollection. Except for reunification, people whose marriages have not been closed in country of origin should remain. It is furr stated in draft: "Or family members, including siblings, do not fall under scope of regulation."

The draft has been in coordination with or departments since this week. In proposal of Federal Ministry it is stated that in selection of 1,000 people played unacceptability of family reunification in a third country, duration of separation and question of wher this was deliberately brought about a role. It also mentions a "concrete danger to life and limb", housing and care situation, illness or health restrictions. Relatives who are already well integrated in Germany can improve ir chances as well as family members abroad with German language skills.

Lindner praises Seehofer's plans

FDP leader Christian Lindner, on or hand, praised Seehofer's plans. "I welcome a restrictive handling of family recollections. The absorption capacities are at last, "said Lindner to Rnd. However, number of 1,000 is an "arbitrary setting which should not be achieved in every month". The CSU position also lacks a positive component, "which stimulates and rewards integration performance." This was "underexposed" in current bill of Ministry of Interior, criticized Lindner.

Date Of Update: 05 April 2018, 12:02