Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has called for an end to the ongoing debates about Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). "It takes perseverance," he told the Münchner Merkur in an interview published on Wednesday. "Friedrich Merz is the right person at the right time – with his experience, his foreign policy focus and his willingness to push through decisions even against opposition within his own ranks."
"In the autumn it will take a lot of focus on the reform projects and at the same time the necessary composure – he has both," Dobrindt said. He added that the situation reminded him of the period between 2005 and 2009, "when urgent, tough reforms were tackled that only paid off politically years later."
Merz has come under criticism for a number of reasons, among them poor polling figures. That criticism has already fuelled speculation about a possible "chancellor swap."
Dobrindt also announced that he intends to continue his tough line on asylum. "The coalition agreement says that we will implement returns to Afghanistan 'beginning with criminal offenders'," the minister told the newspaper. "That means: people who are not entitled to protection and who are required to leave must return to Afghanistan, even if they are not convicted criminals."
The CSU politician made clear that he is not prepared to treat psychological problems as an obstacle either. In his view, such conditions are not a reason to halt a deportation. "Germany cannot be responsible for all the traumatised people in the world."
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