(de-news.net) – Announcing a significant shift in migration policy, the Saxon Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), reiterated the inevitability of border rejections. He expressed confidence that the measures outlined in the coalition agreement to limit migration would significantly reduce numbers. He emphasized that common sense had returned to migration policies and assured that all measures, including the rejection of asylum seekers at borders, complied with European law. Kretschmer noted that such rejections were already occurring and suggested that European law could be amended if necessary. He argued that Germany’s proposed regulations aligned with the majority stance within the EU.

Arguing that other European nations had long sought policies to curb illegal immigration, Kretschmer asserted that Germany’s perceived pull factors for migrants needed to be addressed to prevent the country from being a primary destination. However, he acknowledged that the push-and-pull factor model from the 1960s oversimplified migration processes, with recent studies indicating that pull factors alone do not create significant attraction effects.

Kretschmer urged the public to give the new government a chance, recalling the tradition of allowing administrations 100 days before passing judgment. He criticized premature attacks on the Merz government, which had not yet assumed office, and praised past grand coalitions for their effectiveness compared to recent years. He highlighted the shared responsibility of the CDU and SPD as people’s parties to serve the entire nation. Kretschmer also emphasized the importance of the personal trust developed between CDU leader Friedrich Merz and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, implying that coalitions depend on interpersonal relations.