As Russkaya Germaniya notes, temporary refugee centers are already bursting at the seams. In some states, such as Brandenburg, the Bundeswehr is coming to the aid of local authorities, providing military tents for people to live in. However, with the onset of cold weather, this temporary measure will have to be abandoned: then refugees will need a proper roof over their heads. It is no secret that some people fleeing their homeland to the Federal Republic are primarily motivated by economic reasons. This was stated outright last week by Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU leader Horst Seehofer in his traditional summer interview on ARD.
It is known that the leadership of the CSU does not mince words when it comes to the refugee issue. Bavarian conservatives have long been known for their harsh rhetoric, which often goes beyond 'parliamentary discussions'. A case in point is the Bavarian proposal to create centers in the state that accept only Balkan refugees. And this time, the head of the CSU did not confine himself to general phrases, directly stating that there is a 'massive abuse' of German asylum legislation. In this regard, he first of all noted refugees from Balkan states, who, in his opinion, apply for asylum in the Federal Republic solely because of the 'financial attractiveness' of such a step. As the Bavarian politician noted, the number of refugees from the Balkans is currently twice as large as the number of people fleeing the war in Syria, who truly need protection. That is why Seehofer demanded that cash payments to refugees be replaced with vouchers for food and clothing.
It should be noted that citizens of Kosovo, Albania, and Macedonia, mentioned by the Bavarian prime minister, like all other refugees, do receive cash benefits for pocket money. For example, single people get 143 euros per month, married couples 129 euros, and children 84-92 euros depending on their age. After moving into an apartment paid for by the social welfare department, the benefits increase to 216, 194, and 133-198 euros respectively. Three months after submitting an application, all registered refugees in Germany receive the right to work.
Seehofer believes that this practice must be stopped as soon as possible. The prime minister is confident that this proposal should be adopted at the next meeting of the federal government with the heads of the states, which Seehofer suggests holding in September rather than in mid-autumn as previously planned. In addition, the politician considers it necessary to increase financial assistance from the Federation to the states to solve the refugee problem. In his opinion, it is possible to move from the current 'lump-sum approach', when official Berlin pays the states a strictly defined amount, to financial assistance depending on the number of refugees accommodated in a particular municipality. Incidentally, this proposal was recently voiced by another politician – the governing mayor of Berlin, Social Democrat Michael Müller.
The need for swift solutions to the refugee problem, which has now become one of the most acute socio-economic problems in Germany, is obvious to all German politicians, regardless of their party affiliation. For example, the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, who is a representative of the Greens, Winfried Kretschmann, proposes awarding cash bonuses to those municipalities in the east of the country that accept refugees from his state.
'Naturally, we will bear all costs for accommodating asylum seekers in such a case,' the politician notes. In his opinion, if people are officially recognized as refugees, then they will be able to return to Baden-Württemberg, where there are enough jobs.