In an interview with the “Krone”, ÖVP Chancellor Karl Nehammer shows how difficult it is to carry out deportations. A rethink is now needed, especially at EU level.
Deportations have been widely discussed after the attack in the German city of Solingen. The murderer should have been sent back to Bulgaria, but he went into hiding from the police. Is politics simply powerless to tackle this problem? The readers of “Krone” are clearly calling for tougher action – especially when it comes to breaking the law.
“Crown”: Mr. Nehammer, the attacker from Solingen could not be repatriated to Germany now that he has killed three people. Is there simply a question of powerlessness in politics in some issues?
Karl Nehammer: We are exhausting all possibilities to get people out of the country who have committed crimes or who do not have a residence permit. This year, we are at 13,000 shipments from the country. That is not good enough, we need to deport many more. The Union needs major repatriation agreements that must be linked to economic agreements. Because it does not help, I cannot do repatriations without the cooperation of other countries. It is one thing to investigate and convict the criminal, but if I do not have a partner country that will take him back, I cannot deport him. Asylum procedures in third countries are also required.
Deportations to Afghanistan are hardly possible. What about Syria?
We are in favour of a repatriation agreement to Syria. The current challenge is that the European Asylum Agency has not yet authorised deportations to Syria and that we have to comply with European law. That is why Austria is building up pressure in all EU committees so that a rethink can take place here. As for Afghanistan, there will be no need to negotiate directly with the Taliban. We were the first in the EU to call for deportations to neighbouring countries, to Afghanistan. Many people laughed at us then. Germany is now on our side. These are the first steps in the right direction.
In Germany, there is now talk of detention. Herbert Kickl wanted to make Traiskirchen a departure center. Is that a way to make the country safer?
That was a blackboard demonstration. The fact check shows that under Interior Minister Kickl, more asylum seekers were taken in in Traiskirchen than under Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. This shows that Tafel’s remodeling does not help; it requires substantial politics. Repatriation agreements only work in combination with economic agreements. No country is interested in taking in its delinquent citizens. The ÖVP also wanted security detention for those who were dangerous. We could not achieve this with our government partner; a two-thirds majority in parliament is needed for that. Anyone who cries for more security can now show their colors.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
