To Solingen: Asylum policy between the election campaign and social cold

To Solingen: Asylum policy between the election campaign and social cold

before the choice: The effects of asylum policy on society

In a time of political uncertainty and shortly before important elections in Saxony and Thuringia, the debate about asylum policy is once again in focus. The terrible events in Solingen have not only brought up daylight, but also rekindled the discussion about the treatment of asylum seekers in Germany.

Recently it was announced that the Federal Council is planning to significantly shorten the social services for certain groups of asylum seekers. Instead of paying the applicants to cover basic needs such as food and hygiene items, a regulation is being worked on that deprives them of this form of support. This happens at the time of the elections, and this not only affects those affected, but also on society.

The reactions of the established parties to these tragic incidents seem to be motivated by an endeavor to withdraw voters from the AfD and other similar groups. By communicating on a strict asylum policy, CDU, SPD and other political actors send a clear signal to their electorate: they do not want to leave the topic of asylum and integration to the extremists and at the same time show that they are willing to initiate drastic steps to "security". Nevertheless, it is feared that many voters will not perceive such a course as sufficient and still tend to the AfD.

The fact that this discussion continues to heat up the social atmosphere is particularly worrying. The establishment of the narrative that refugee people are a threat to security favors a climate of fear and uncertainty. In the long term, this can lead to normalization of extremist views that have been considered undesirable in the past. Local initiatives that work for various and open cooperation are endangered by this trend and face an enormous challenge.

The current situation shows how important it is to think about the measures imposed. If social policy decisions are primarily made from electoral strategic considerations, the social cohesion and the well -being of everyone - not just the refugees suffer. The true value of an open society should be reflected in the support of all people, especially in times of crisis.

summarized, the current debate on asylum policy and integration illustrates how profound such political decisions are anchored in society and what effects they can have on living together. Especially in the primary time, it is crucial to counter these issues with empathy and foresight.