Alexander Dobrindt: The Merkel Critic Aiming for a Migration Policy Shift

With the expectation of millions of Germans looking for a shift in migration policy, Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union (CSU) is set to take on the role of Interior Minister in the anticipated government of Friedrich Merz. His primary objectives include reducing illegal entries, increasing deportations, and enhancing the safety of Germany.

Dobrindt has demonstrated his skills as a negotiator in previous coalition talks, particularly during the debt negotiations with the Greens and discussions with the Social Democrats. His party leader, Markus Söder, has praised Dobrindt's clear conservative stance.

As the new 'black sheriff', Dobrindt is known for his straightforward discussions on migration and integration during his time as CSU Secretary General and head of the parliamentary group. His remarks on the migration issue have been significant and are documented in various media.

In recent discussions, he highlighted the complications surrounding Afghan flights and the chaotic situation regarding the repatriation of Afghan nationals to Germany. Experts are analyzing whether the coalition agreement will fulfill its promise of a migration turnaround, with Dobrindt advocating for a clear response to the challenges posed by migration.

In 2010, during a debate, Dobrindt warned against viewing migration as a solution to economic issues, such as labor shortages, emphasizing the need to address the problems stemming from previous waves of immigration. He pointed out that Germany had approximately a million individuals unwilling to integrate, suggesting that bringing in more potential non-integrators would not be a viable solution.

His stance became more pronounced during the refugee crisis of 2016 when he publicly challenged former Chancellor Angela Merkel's policies, advocating for immediate political changes and warning that Germany might need to consider border closures. He argued that the country had reached its limit in terms of accommodating migrants and labeled the migration crisis as a pivotal issue for the nation and the political parties involved.

Dobrindt was also among the first within the Union to openly critique Merkel's approach. He called for border closures and asserted that Germany could not take in more migrants. In 2018, supporting then-Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, he reiterated that Islam does not belong to Germany, stating that the cultural identity of Germany should not be compromised and that multiculturalism had failed.

He has made it clear that while Muslims who seek to integrate into German society are welcomed, Islam itself does not shape the cultural identity of the country. Dobrindt has emphasized the necessity of a return culture in Germany, insisting that asylum rights should not be exploited as a pathway to access social systems.

In a 2018 interview, he noted that while overall crime rates in Germany were declining, crimes committed by refugees were on the rise, underscoring his views on the need for stringent immigration policies. He has called for deportations to become a standard procedure, asserting that those merely seeking a better life through social benefits must leave the country.

In 2023, he labeled the SPD's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser as a "Trojan horse" for worsening the migration crisis, warning of a potential societal conflict if the issues surrounding migration were not effectively managed. Now, with the migration crisis increasingly at the forefront of public concern, Dobrindt is poised to implement his vision as Germany's Interior Minister.