October 11, 2023
1 min read

Scholz concerned about growing far-right popularity in Germany

Immigration was among the key topics as Germany, like elsewhere in Europe, is facing a surge of new arrivals that has revived memories of a major influx in 2015…reports Asian Lite News

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern Tuesday about the growing popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party made strong gains in state elections at the weekend.

“We have to be concerned about the votes that went to a right-wing populist party in Germany,” said Scholz, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Hamburg.

“There is no doubt at all that political positions are represented there that are not well compatible with the ideas we have of freedom, democracy, the rule of law,” he added.

The anti-immigration AfD gained several percentage points in the key polls on Sunday, coming second in the state of Hesse and third in Bavaria. Scholz’s centre-left-led coalition meanwhile suffered heavy losses.

Immigration was among the key topics as Germany, like elsewhere in Europe, is facing a surge of new arrivals that has revived memories of a major influx in 2015.

Asked whether the government planned to change its migration policies after the far right’s latest gains, Scholz defended the coalition’s approach, saying steps were being taken to deal with surging numbers.

But he also acknowledged the “number of refugees coming to Germany is too high, especially considering that many of them have been in other European countries before, where they were not registered or processed through asylum procedures”.

Macron, on a two-day visit to Germany, said that rising nationalism was due to an “ineffective response to the problems of illegal migration”.

“Strengthened European cooperation” was needed, he added.

EU states last week agreed to the final part of an overhaul for rules on how they handle asylum seekers and irregular migrants, setting up a push to make it law by elections next year.

Once implemented, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum would seek to relieve the pressure on so-called frontline countries such as Italy and Greece by relocating some arrivals to other EU states.

ALSO READ-UK, Ireland to host Euro 2028

Previous Story

IMF slashes forecast for Italy’s economic growth in 2023

Next Story

Ukraine to spend 21.6% of GDP on defence in 2024

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan FM Due in Bangladesh

During his visit Dar will hold discussions with the Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain and also call on Muhammad Yunus…reports Asian Lite News Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar

Balochistan: Where the State Makes People Disappear

The victims include students, journalists, and peaceful protesters, many of whom were abducted from cities such as Karachi and Islamabad….reports Asian Lite News A human rights organisation on Monday revealed that 785

Monsoon Havoc in Pakistan

Since June 26, torrential rains have killed at least 299 people—including 140 children—and injured 715 in Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News Since June 26, torrential monsoon rains have devastated Pakistan, killing at least

Bangladesh’s Dark Turn

With the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray, a vacuum has emerged — one that has not necessarily been filled with stability….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s political landscape has
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Rajnath to hold bilateral talks with US, German counterparts

According to the Ministry, the bilateral talks will focus on

Macron calls Franco-German ties ‘indispensable’

Upon landing in Berlin, Macron immediately travelled to the German