2024-08-31 22:52:18
Olaf Scholz responds to Friedrich Merz’s proposal. The Chancellor wants to consult with the opposition about the consequences of the Solingen attack.
After the fatal knife attack in Solingen, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced talks with the states and the Union about the consequences. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser will “very quickly invite a representative of the chair and co-chair of the Conference of Prime Ministers, representatives of the largest opposition party and the federal ministries involved to confidential and targeted talks on this issue,” he said after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Berlin.
At a meeting with her French counterpart Gérald Damanin in Paris, Nancy Faeser said she had already invited the CDU. Faeser did not say exactly when the talks would take place. However, a “close collaboration between all political levels” was necessary in order to learn from the attack.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil also signaled his willingness to work with the CDU in an interview with the “Rheinische Post”: “I think it’s good that the largest opposition party is showing a willingness to work with us to ensure security in the country. Everything that is realistic, based on European and German law and brings about improvement, we can immediately tackle as the democratic center of this country, together with the federal and state governments.”
Chancellor Scholz stressed that the federal government had already decided on measures that were having an effect. But further steps were necessary. “We will not return to business as usual. We will learn lessons,” said Scholz.
Scholz continued that the numbers of irregular migration have not fallen as much as he would like. That is why the federal government is discussing legal measures, for example on gun laws and residence permits.
“It is a good signal when the largest opposition party offers cooperation,” said Scholz in response to the offer from CDU leader Friedrich Merz. It must also be clarified why the suspected Solingen attacker was still in Germany, although he should have been deported to Bulgaria long ago.