Debate on safe countries of origin: Thuringian tactics

Imagine headlines like these: "SPD cuts Hartz IV benefits." Or: "CDU decides immediate diesel ban." Sounds like the wrong world. For the respective parties it would actually be contradictions to their positions. But a similar scenario, speculate now some, could allegedly soon come true: "Left and Green vote for safe countries of origin."

The black-red coalition wants to expand the list of these states. The background: People who originate from the so-called safe countries of origin can be deported there more easily - without the requirement for individual testing would be eliminated. In addition to Georgia, the government now wants to classify the Maghreb states of Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria accordingly. The Bundestag has already agreed - with votes from Union, SPD, FDP and AfD.

Only: Left and Greens continue to vehemently reject the plan. With the comrades one sees deportations generally critically. At the end of November, the party and faction leaders of the Left held together: "The construct of the 'safe countries of origin' must not be expanded, it must be abolished."

The Greens in turn denounce the human rights situation in the affected countries. In all three Maghreb states, "consensual sexuality among adults of the same sex is at high risk of imprisonment," the group said after a hearing in the Interior Committee. There was an "offensive state persecution, especially by out-ganged lesbians and gays".

No majority in the Bundesrat

Despite the criticism, the Federal Council should vote on the draft bill in mid-February. However, other majorities prevail there than in the Bundestag. Without the approval of at least some of the Left and Greens of co-governed countries, the proposed law has no chance. A defeat of the government seemed inevitable.

But then, of all things, Thuringia applied for the postponement of the vote. A land that is ruled by red-red-green. Prime Minister is Bodo Ramelow. A linker. Since then it has been puzzled in Berlin: Are the Greens and the Left still moving?

If you believe government representatives from Thuringia, then they wanted to use the shift to once again basically to negotiate on asylum policy.

Already in November Ramelow had signaled willingness to talk. At that time, he not only demanded a "regulated migration", which for some leftists is already a taboo break. The Prime Minister made it clear what was most important to him: a case law to ensure that tolerated people can be permanently integrated. But: "If you want to negotiate, then you have to be willing to negotiate."

And after deciding to delay, Ramelow wrote on his website, "Let's focus on pragmatic solutions that are humanitarian." It is now time to "talk about holy cows and solid dogmas again".

FDP leader Lindner sees Ramelow signs for course change

The pragmatist Ramelov, many in and out of the party, could possibly support the expansion of the list of safe countries of origin.

FDP leader Christian Lindner, for example, hopes that the AFD will be able to pick up a topic in the 2019 election year. Lindner sees the problem especially in the Greens, he pleads for increasing the pressure on them and the topic even before the state elections this year off the table. In his view, there are indications in Thuringia, which point to a possible course correction of the previous line of the party in the Bundesrat. Lindner apparently insists that people like the left-wing politician Ramelow put pressure on the Greens in Thuringia. "The statements of the Prime Minister Ramelow are a sign that the green defensive front is crumbling against faster deportations to safe countries of origin," he told the SPIEGEL.

But, is this really the truth? At least to the outside, the coalition partner sounds more subdued. They preferred to talk about real problems of asylum policy, says Green Justice Minister Dieter Lauinger the SPIEGEL. "We need an immigration law, which allows the lane change for people who have lived here for years, but only tolerated." Lauinger calls for faster procedures and upper court decisions. "If the Union moves in these areas, we too are ready to compromise on asylum law," he says.

However, he also says: "Compromises in the expansion of safe countries of origin are unthinkable for the Thuringian Green Party."

Debacle for the Greens peak

In fact, it would be a debacle for the Greens top, yet another state would face the official party line. The willingness of Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann to vote for the expansion hurts the Greens, especially the left wing of the party. For months, Berlin has been demonstratively emphasizing that Kretschmann is just an exception. The federal executive has more control over the other Greens in the government.

For peace in the party the question is elementary. Only if the Greens are fundamentally closed here can the party leaders prevent the old wing battles between Left and Realos breaking out again.

But if there is no compromise with the Greens - what does Ramelow have in mind? In Thuringia, many leftists behave conspicuously on this issue. One thing is clear at least, it is said again and again: If the federal government brings the law again in this form, you will just vote against.

But now the left want to wait and see if there is movement in the Union - even if nothing suggests so far.

But perhaps Ramelow himself does not even believe in a substantive agreement. Maybe he has already reached his goal. After the recent maneuver in the Bundesrat, he can at any rate stage himself as a pragmatic mediator - without having to torpedo the course of his own party. The ball is now at the Union, says a comrade from Thuringia. Not the worst starting point for the upcoming election campaign in the state.

In the event of a rejection in the Federal Council, the Federal Government could also have called the mediation committee. There, however, may only be spoken about the present legal text. Now months could pass before the issue comes back on the agenda. Until then, you can continue to negotiate everything without restriction. Also on Ramelow's asylum policy agenda. In any case, he has secured the attention of the public.