The German Federal Council partially cancels the security package

The law recently passed by the Bundestag to provide more options for the security authorities did not receive a majority vote in the Council of State in Berlin.

The German Traffic Light Alliance's “security package” partially failed in the Federal Council. The law recently passed by the Bundestag, which requires approval to provide more options to the security authorities, did not receive a majority vote in the Council of State in Berlin. However, the Federal Council passed a second law containing regulations on benefits for asylum seekers and banning the use of knives.

The law, which was rejected by the State Council, concerns more options for the security authorities. They should be given the authority to match biometric data online in certain cases. However, face and voice searches using an automated application should only be allowed if the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) or his representative has obtained court approval. If there was imminent danger, the head of the office or one of his three deputies had to issue the order himself for a maximum of three days.

In the previous discussion in the Federal Council, representatives of Bavaria and Berlin made clear their rejection of the plans. The head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, Florian Herrmann (CSU), criticized the package as insufficient and spoke of corrupt regulations. Irregular migration will not be combated in this way. The proposed knife ban is a purely symbolic policy. In contrast, Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) stressed that the package was an appropriate response. He called on people not to prevent increased police security and powers unnecessarily if that is not enough.

I decided to cut off protection services

The Federal Council allowed the other part of the “security package” to be passed. Asylum seekers whose application for protection under the so-called Dublin Rules is responsible for another European state should be excluded from state benefits – if it is legally and effectively possible for them to leave the country. Exceptions must be made if children are affected. In addition, the ban on the use of knives in public places will be expanded. (APA/DPA)