Germany’s interior ministry says asylum applications fell by a third last year. In 2023, 322,636 people applied for asylum in Germany. That figure dropped by 34% to 213,499 last year. The new figures come amid a heated debate over immigration ahead of national elections on February 23rd. That’s after a string of fatal attacks carried out by foreign nationals in Germany.
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz pushed a non-binding motion through parliament last week demanding a further tightening of border controls. That vote caused controversy as it was backed by the far-right AfD party.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Merz’s move at the weekend because it was seen as breaking a convention of not working with the far-right in parliament.
Chapters:
0:00 Germany’s asylum applications fall
1:00 Günter Krings, CDU Bundestag member
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