By Easter at the latest: Union and SPD in the race for a new coalition!

The Austrian government has taken a clear position on Germany's planned asylum rejections. According to the new regulations agreed in the coalition talks between the Union and the SPD, asylum seekers should be rejected at the borders. But Austria strictly rejects this because it violates applicable EU law, as the Interior Ministry stated. The state police headquarters have been instructed not to accept such rejections and to report immediately if such incidents occur, they said Small newspaper.

The new coalition in Austria, consisting of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, is also planning restrictive measures in the asylum sector, including a temporary suspension of family reunification for those in need of protection. The Union in Germany is also considering similar considerations, which has indicated that it will restrict family reunification for people with limited protection status. Migration is a major point of contention between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, which will have to face a difficult dialogue in the upcoming coalition negotiations. CDU leader Merz is pushing for quick talks to form a new government by Easter after the Union became the strongest force in last election while the SPD hit historic lows, as daily news reported.

Political negotiations under pressure

The negotiations for the new government are dominated by migration policy. While the Union is calling for increased border controls and planning rejections, the SPD emphasizes that this is not in line with EU law. Another critical point is the planned family reunification, which is to be suspended again for relatives of those entitled to subsidiary protection. These different points of view suggest conflict-laden discussions, with Merz and Klingbeil having to agree on a compromise. The SPD is under pressure after losing heavily in the election and is now faced with the responsibility of being a junior partner in a possible coalition.