“We are now experiencing social tourism from these refugees.”
(Photo: IMAGO/Christian Spicker)
Berlin CDU leader Friedrich Merz has complained about “social tourism” from Ukrainian refugees to Germany. He told Bild TV in an interview broadcast on Monday evening: “We are now experiencing social tourism from these refugees: to Germany, back to Ukraine, to Germany, back to Ukraine.” The background, according to Merz: initially, refugees from Ukraine were entitled to care according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act – since June they have received basic security, i.e. the same benefits as, for example, Hartz IV recipients.
In his own words, Merz expects even greater problems with refugees from Russia “if the Federal Government did what the Federal Minister of the Interior suggested, namely to give practically all conscientious objectors to military service mobilization in Russia access to the Federal Republic of Germany”. The Union is “strictly opposed”.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) had told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” that deserters threatened with severe repression usually received international protection in Germany. “Anyone who courageously opposes the regime of President Vladimir Putin and therefore puts themselves in the greatest danger can apply for asylum in Germany because of political persecution.” However, the granting of asylum is a case-by-case decision, which also includes a security check.
More: All developments in the Ukraine war in the live blog
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