Germany’s coalition government will support cross-party discussions on migration control, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday, as public pressure mounts over the issue. Scholz emphasized that his government is committed to the talks’ success and said failure would not be due to the government’s inaction.
Speaking in his Teltow constituency in Brandenburg, Scholz expressed hope for a positive outcome from the meeting, set for Tuesday, which will include leaders from the ruling coalition, the conservative opposition, and representatives from the 16 federal states. The goal is to establish a unified stance on migration policies.
The talks follow a deadly stabbing in Solingen on August 23, where a 26-year-old Syrian man killed three people and injured eight others at a festival. The attack has heightened national debate on migration and security, prompting urgent action.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, said he would only continue discussions if the government agrees to turn back undocumented migrants at Germany’s borders. Meanwhile, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged all parties to seek compromise, stressing the need for unity in addressing citizens’ concerns about migration.
Recent state elections, held after the Solingen attack, have seen rising support for anti-migration parties, further intensifying the political debate.
