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Migrant Boat Tragedy in Italy Complicates German Politics Sinking of Migrant Boat Off Italy Complicates German Politics
(about 5 hours later)
BERLIN — The tragedy of almost 300 migrants who drowned after their boat caught fire and sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa added new complexity to the search for a new German government on Thursday when key figures in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party demanded fresh European policies toward asylum seekers. BERLIN — The deaths of almost 300 migrants whose boat caught fire and sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa added new complexity to the search for a new German government on Thursday, when key figures in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party demanded fresh European policies toward asylum seekers.
“The Mediterranean cannot continue to be a mass grave for migrants,” Maria Böhmer, who is responsible for refugee policy in the chancellery, told the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. “All forces must be mobilized” and changes introduced “so that refugees no longer die in their rickety boats,” she was quoted as saying. “The Mediterranean cannot continue to be a mass grave for migrants,” Maria Böhmer, who is responsible for refugee policy in the chancellery, told the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “All forces must be mobilized” and changes introduced “so that refugees no longer die in their rickety boats,” she said.
A deputy chairman of Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democrats echoed her demand, which emerged hours before the chancellor was to sit down with the Greens for talks on whether the two forces could build their first coalition in national government. A deputy chairman of Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democrats echoed her demand, which emerged hours before the chancellor was to sit down with the Greens for talks on whether the two forces could build their first national coalition government.
The Greens on Wednesday made clear that they would not join such a coalition without changes in immigration policy.The Greens on Wednesday made clear that they would not join such a coalition without changes in immigration policy.
“We cannot accept a policy guided toward those who take in the fewest migrants,” said Carin Göring-Eckart, one of two newly elected Green Party leaders. “One can only imagine serious negotiations if this position changes,” she said, in a clear dig at the current interior minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich.“We cannot accept a policy guided toward those who take in the fewest migrants,” said Carin Göring-Eckart, one of two newly elected Green Party leaders. “One can only imagine serious negotiations if this position changes,” she said, in a clear dig at the current interior minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich.
Mr. Friedrich, a member of the Christian Social Union, Ms. Merkel’s conservative ally in Bavaria, said after the disaster in Lampedusa last week that Europe should stick to its current policies on migration.Mr. Friedrich, a member of the Christian Social Union, Ms. Merkel’s conservative ally in Bavaria, said after the disaster in Lampedusa last week that Europe should stick to its current policies on migration.
Ms. Merkel won a resounding personal victory in Sept. 22 elections, but her Christian Democrats were left five seats shy of a majority in Parliament and her previous coalition partners, the business-oriented Free Democrats, failed to get into the legislature for the first time since 1949.Ms. Merkel won a resounding personal victory in Sept. 22 elections, but her Christian Democrats were left five seats shy of a majority in Parliament and her previous coalition partners, the business-oriented Free Democrats, failed to get into the legislature for the first time since 1949.
Although her conservative party has joined the Greens in the governments of several important cities across Germany’s 16 states, a national coalition between the two looks less likely than a so-called “grand coalition” in which Ms. Merkel would govern with the center-left Social Democrats, the No. 2 political force in the country. Although her conservative party has joined the Greens in the governments of several important cities across Germany’s 16 states, a national coalition between the two looks less likely than a so-called grand coalition, in which Ms. Merkel would govern with the center-left Social Democrats, the No. 2 political force in the country.
No matter whom she partners with, the chancellor will find herself embroiled in debates over domestic matters, including creaking infrastructure, disputes over the minimum wage, energy and what constitutes a family in 21st-century Germany. Whether her potential partners — the Social Democrats or the Greens — end up tugging her leftward and on what issues will be the focus of German politics for the coming weeks as talks on the policies of a new coalition continue.No matter whom she partners with, the chancellor will find herself embroiled in debates over domestic matters, including creaking infrastructure, disputes over the minimum wage, energy and what constitutes a family in 21st-century Germany. Whether her potential partners — the Social Democrats or the Greens — end up tugging her leftward and on what issues will be the focus of German politics for the coming weeks as talks on the policies of a new coalition continue.
The chancellor was quoted in German media as telling party members this week that she hoped serious coalition talks would begin when Parliament convenes on Oct. 22. Agreement is unlikely before late November and the talks could drag on until mid-December. Until then, the current government will continue in a caretaker capacity. The chancellor was quoted in German media as telling party members this week that she hoped that serious coalition talks would begin when Parliament convenes on Oct. 22. An agreement is unlikely before late November, and the talks could drag on until mid-December. Until then, the current government will continue in a caretaker capacity.
The Greens, who just two years ago regularly polled over 20 percent support in opinion surveys, fared far worse than they had hoped in the September elections, winning less than 9 percent of the vote for just 63 seats in the new Parliament, one fewer than the far-left Left Party.The Greens, who just two years ago regularly polled over 20 percent support in opinion surveys, fared far worse than they had hoped in the September elections, winning less than 9 percent of the vote for just 63 seats in the new Parliament, one fewer than the far-left Left Party.
Since then, the Greens have overhauled their leadership. Ms. Göring-Eckart and her new party co-chair, Anton Hofreiter, are just edging into their new partnership, and some prominent party members have all but excluded a government role for such an untested team. Since then, the Greens have overhauled their leadership. Ms. Göring-Eckart and her new party co-chairman, Anton Hofreiter, are just easing into their new partnership, and some prominent party members have all but excluded a government role for such an untested team.
This made it all the more striking to hear two of Ms. Merkel’s allies take up the immigration policy debate in the Greens’ direction.This made it all the more striking to hear two of Ms. Merkel’s allies take up the immigration policy debate in the Greens’ direction.
Armin Laschet, one of five deputy chairs of the Christian Democrats and head of the party in Germany’s most populous state, said it was “necessary and important” to show empathy for the many refugees of the world. He noted that Pope Francis I – an authority for the many Roman Catholics among the Christian Democrats – had warned against the globalization of indifference and was concerned “that we no longer see individual fates, but abstract numbers” when discussing refugees. Armin Laschet, one of five deputy chairmen of the Christian Democrats and head of the party in Germany’s most populous state, said it was “necessary and important” to show empathy for the many refugees of the world. He noted that Pope Francis I, an authority for the many Roman Catholics among the Christian Democrats, had warned against the globalization of indifference and was concerned “that we no longer see individual fates, but abstract numbers” when discussing refugees.
Both he and Ms. Böhmer, in their comments to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, demanded a new role for the European border patrol force Frontex. “In future,” Mr. Laschet told the newspaper, “Frontex must put far more emphasis on its second duty, which is to save human lives.” Both he and Ms. Böhmer, in their comments to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, demanded a new role for the European border patrol force Frontex. “In the future,” Mr. Laschet told the newspaper, “Frontex must put far more emphasis on its second duty, which is to save human lives.”
“If people are in need and fighting for survival,” Mr. Laschet added, “you can’t be discussing asylum rules – you have to save them.” “If people are in need and fighting for survival,” Mr. Laschet added, “you can’t be discussing asylum rules — you have to save them.”