On Sunday we wrote about polling data in Germany showing majorities in all parties except Greens in favor of ending Muslim immigration. Today has an AP report of an historic agreement among German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the 16 state governors.
The new measures include speeding up asylum procedures, benefit restrictions for asylum seekers and more financial aid from the federal government for the states and local communities dealing with the influx.
Over recent weeks, there had been a flurry of government activity, including legislation to ease deportations of unsuccessful asylum-seekers, to stiffen punishment for smugglers, to allow asylum-seekers to start working sooner, and to introduce temporary checks on the Polish, Czech and Swiss borders.
It isn’t the preferred “end to immigration” but certainly steps in that direction, suggesting a willingness to consider further steps and even some border controls.
