Migrants and fake visas, Berlin will introduce checks at the border with Poland. The great frost with Warsaw – time.news

2023-09-27 16:50:19

by Paolo Valentino

German Chancellor Scholz linked the increase in arrivals to the Schengen visa scandal, which corrupt officials at Polish consulates in Africa allegedly granted to thousands of people in exchange for money

BERLIN – There are more than one polemical diplomatic fronts on which the Federal Republic is involved in the matter of immigration. As if the dispute with Italy were not enough, which could reach a clarification tomorrow with Antonio Tajani’s visit to Berlin, Germany has a very serious problem on its doorstep. in fact, the crisis is now open with Poland, due to the wave of refugees that continues to arrive in German territory from the eastern border, to the point that the government intends to reinstate strict controls at the border between the two countries.

The Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, confirmed the plan, saying that contacts are already underway with the Polish authorities to coordinate the controls, necessary to stop the criminal gangs that filter migrants into Germany. Today the minister added at a press conference that in view of the growing crime of smuggling on the German borders with the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic, further checks are necessary to monitor the border area.

But what further poisoned the already heavy climate between Berlin and Warsaw were the statements of Chancellor Scholz, who linked the increase in arrivals to the Schengen visa scandal, which corrupt officials of the Polish consulates in Africa allegedly granted to thousands of people in exchange for money. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau reacted harshly to Scholz’s request for clarification, accusing the chancellor of interference in Polish internal affairs and the ongoing election campaign. Rau asked Scholz to respect Poland’s sovereignty and avoid statements that damage our relations.

Which sounds strange to say the least, coming from a member of Pis, the far-right nationalist party in government, which in view of the elections on 15 October has focused on old anti-German stereotypes, bringing up the issue of war reparations and even accusing the candidate of the popular opposition, the former President of the European Council Donald Tusk, of being in the pay of Germany. Scholz’s spokesman rejected the accusation of interference, but said clearly that Berlin expects the Polish government to clarify all aspects of the visa scandal. The European Commission has also asked Warsaw to respond by October 3 to a list of questions on the topic, which risks being devastating for the Pis on an electoral level.

26 September 2023 (modified 27 September 2023 | 16:49)

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