"It's over at our border": Frei announces immediate asylum turnaround

From day one of his chancellorship, he wants to end illegal migration: With this promise, Friedrich Merz polarized the federal election campaign. Now, the designated head of the Chancellery, Frei, declares that this is exactly what he intends to do starting May 6.

Thorsten Frei, the future head of the Chancellery, has announced tightened controls at Germany's external borders. The new federal government will "expand and intensify identity checks at the German borders from day one," he told the Funke media group newspapers. In order to effectively and quickly limit illegal migration, pushbacks at the border are also planned.

"Anyone attempting to enter Germany illegally must expect that from May 6 onward, they will be denied entry at the German border," the CDU politician continued, referring to the date on which Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz is to be sworn in. "No one can apply for asylum in the country of their choice," Frei added. "According to European law, this must happen where someone first enters the European Union. That is almost never Germany," the future head of the Chancellery continued.

"Germany no longer in the brakeman's cabin"

The future federal government is already coordinating with neighboring countries such as France, Austria, and Poland. The planned German change of course is receiving "very broad approval," said the designated head of the Chancellery. Frei previously served as parliamentary manager of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Internal security and limiting migration are among the interior expert's core topics. CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt is set to become Federal Minister of the Interior.

The CDU/CSU and SPD agreed in their coalition agreement to continue controls at all German borders and to reject asylum seekers. This should be done "in coordination with our European neighbors." For the SPD, this requires the consent of the affected countries; CDU/CSU representatives do not consider explicit consent necessary. Merz had previously emphasized that the EU would support a much more restrictive German course. "Under my leadership, Germany will no longer sit in the brakes on this issue in Europe."