Tino Chrupalla, November 2, 2021, Asylum Benefits

AfD Kompakt, November 2, 2021.

The Greek criticism of the German migration policy hits a decisive point: In a European comparison, the singularly high German money benefits for asylum applicants are a powerful magnet for migration movements in the direction of the the EU and are conducive to intra-European secondary migration to the Federal Republic.

Besides the compellingly necessary expansion of an effective and long-term defense of the EU’s external borders, this central pull-factor for the present migratory movements to Germany needs to be shut down and thereby the further migration into our already now fully over-burdened social system ended. Beyond that, in the medium-term must be guaranteed that these benefits furnished by the citizens for the asylum applicants are not allowed to remain permanently without a consideration.

The AfD Bundestag delegation therefore demands of the new government a most long overdue, fair approximation of received benefits in regards the remaining EU states. Thus should be supported a calculation as per the principle “benefits in kind before money benefits”. For that, additional incentives in German asylum procedures, as for example over-extended proceedings, labor market access prior to approval and neglected deportations, need to be eliminated. Only so is the migration to Germany in the future to be controlled and effectively limited.

 

[trans: tem]

 

René Springer, November 1, 2021, Commuter Tax Allowance

AfD Kompakt, November 1, 2021.

Instead of wanting to save the world in the coalition negotiations, the future governing parties should finally look reality in the eye and take seriously the concerns of the people. The apparently planned abolition of the the commuter tax allowance [Pendlerpauschale] works de facto as a tax increase for the middle-class. Directly and proximately affected are those people who by their work keep the Deutschland Store running. For families with two autos, the climbing price of benzine is leading to a yearly increased cost of 1,800 euros, according to the reckoning of the DIW [German Institute for Economic Research]. These people need to pay, in the midst of the highest inflation in almost 30 years, not only these increased costs but for them now also the commuter tax allowance shall be eliminated. Thereby mobility – primarily for people in the countryside – ultimately becomes a luxury.

One can only hope that at least the FDP makes this point. It is nevertheless frightening that this theme is at all contested. Instead of pursuing unrealistic climate goals on the backs of working people, the coalition negotiators should make clear that the commuter tax allowance will not be touched.

 

[trans: tem]

 

Bernd Baumann, October 26, 2021, New Bundestag

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/1, pp. 1-2.

Herr President. Ladies and gentlemen.

Today a new Bundestag is constituted. For almost two hundred years, it is a fixed parliamentary requirement that a so-called elder president open this first sitting. That was always – out of respect for the elders – the oldest of all the members. From the Frankfurter Paulskirche to the Parliament of the Kaisers’ time, from the Weimar Republic to the re-united Germany, even well into the time of the Merkel government, all Reichstags, all Bundestags adhered to this rule.

In almost two hundred years, in only one parliament was it dared to break with this tradition. That was – it needs be clearly said – 1933, following the seizure of power with a President Hermann Göring. Shall that be your model?

            Marco Buschmann (FDP): This is the same speech!

I had already warned you of that in 2017. That is no good tradition. Let us come back again to the way confirmed by all German democrats for two hundred years.

            Jan Korte (Linke): Göring, however, is your tradition!

Why do you again today want to break this rule? Yet it is clear: Like four years ago, also today the oldest and most experienced member, and thereby the legitimate elder president, comes from the ranks of the AfD. Finally acknowledge that.

There is still no reason why you refuse. The eldest and most experienced in this newly elected parliament is Alexander Gauland, over half a century in German politics and in leading positions, 40 years of that in the CDU, and in the past four years the strongest and most eloquent opposition leader here in house, ladies and gentlemen.

You want to hinder the legitimate elder president Gauland. You proceed exactly so in regards the office of Vice-president. And for many years you deny to us an important, a central office which all other delegations receive and according to the orders of business belongs also to the AfD. Both, the denial of the elder president and the Vice-president, are not just a disrespect of the AfD as a delegation of equal right here in house, worse still: It is also a disrespect, a disparagement of millions of voters, an insult of each individual, a mockery of democracy, ladies and gentlemen.

The governing and parliamentary majority’s relations with the opposition indicate the state of a democracy. Actually, the EU Commission needs to open a legal proceeding – not against Hungary, not against Poland, ladies and gentlemen, but against Germany on account of an obvious and continued injury to the opposition in this house.

We will subsequently see with the election of the Vice-president how it further goes. With Michael Kaufmann, a very well known college professor steps forward. Even the Linke Minister-president in Thüringen voted for him, and not even Frau Merkel rescinded that.

 

[trans: tem]