German coalition parties agree to tighten security after truck attack

[webfact]

German coalition parties agree to tighten security after truck attack

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - The leaders of Germany's "grand coalition" have agreed to tighten security measures after the deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market, including tougher steps to deport migrants seen as security risks, officials said on Monday.

 

Leaders of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its CSU Bavarian sister party and the Social Democrats (SPD), agreed at a meeting in Munich to move ahead with the proposals made last month by Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.

 

"A well-fortified government is our answer to terrorist threats," Maas, a Social Democrat, said in a statement. "We are in agreement that the existing rules must be rigorously enforced, and that we must tighten the rules where necessary."

 

Maas said it was critical that those migrants who were ordered to leave the country were actually deported.

 

The agreement paves the way for Germany's ruling right-centre coalition to implement the package of measures and speed any needed legislation through parliament. Die Welt newspaper reported in its Tuesday editions that the measures also included strict residency controls on asylum seekers.

 

Security and migration will be major campaign themes ahead of the national election on Sept. 24 in which Merkel is seeking a fourth term.

 

Merkel's party has been bleeding support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party which has criticised Merkel's "open-door" refugee policy. A poll released Monday showed that the SPD, junior partners in the coalition, would triumph if the election were held today.

 

The country is on edge over Islamist violence after a spate of attacks last year, and questions about why Anis Amri, the 24-year-old Tunisian asylum-seeker who ploughed the truck into revellers at the market, was still in the country despite deportation orders.

 

German authorities had not sent Amri back to Tunisia because they were awaiting papers from the Tunisian government. He was shot dead by police in northern Italy. He had not been held in Germany because German authorities did not believe he would carry out an attack.

 

Maas said it was important to enforce Germany's rules and laws to build long-term acceptance for migration. He said the party leaders also agreed to initiate a programme aimed at preventing Islamist militancy.

 

Coalition sources said SPD leaders rejected a proposal made by the conservatives that would have set up "transit zones" for processing migrants.

 

(Reporting by Holger Hansen; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-07

[Naam]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

German coalition parties agree to tighten security after truck attack

the typical rubbish we get from politicians. is there any other option? 

[bangon04]

" "A well-fortified government is our answer to terrorist threats," "

Maybe if they stopped thinking about protecting their own government, they could focus more on protecting their citizens.....

[sweatalot]

to late, to expensive and it will not work out

The mistake was done in the past.

Only one way to correct it - undo it, take the potential criminals out

[klauskunkel]

Quote

The leaders of Germany's "grand coalition" have agreed to tighten security measures

and while you are at it, have a look at your heads and tighten those loose screws as well, one wrench fits all

[Stargeezr]

The solution is to vote in new blood, into the German government.

Vote out Merkel!  She and her party have failed the German people, and I hope that they

recognize that.

[Baerboxer]

7 hours ago, Naam said:

the typical rubbish we get from politicians. is there any other option? 

 

Indeed. And of course, they'll tighten the release of news regarding certain crimes and related statistics.

[The manic]

Too little too late. Only Trump knows what he is doing 

[ilostmypassword]

21 minutes ago, The manic said:

Too little too late. Only Trump knows what he is doing 

And the voices in his head.

[Ulic]

A day late and a dollar short comes to mind.