To convince voters that his government is serious about cracking down on vast asylum numbers, Friedrich Merz must deal with the immense ‘pull factor’ luring migrants to Germany.
Currently, the country pays asylum seekers more money each month than anywhere else in Europe, according to a report in Bild. The paper notes that other European Union member states know this to be the case and so “happily wave the migrants through.”
If a migrant’s asylum application is approved, the German taxpayer forks out to fund a €563 monthly citizen’s allowance—not to mention rent and health insurance. That’s much more, for example, than the €160 (plus accommodation) given to those granted asylum in Poland.
Bild adds that even those who have not yet had—and may never have—their applications approved receive €441 per month in Germany, plus accommodation, compared to €236 in Denmark and €210 in France. And those whose applications are rejected still receive this fund, whereas cash support is cut off in other countries.
Other figures released last month suggested that almost every second euro went to people with foreign citizenship in 2024. René Springer, who represents Alternative für Deutschland in the Bundestag, bemoaned that “our welfare state is becoming the prey of the world.”
Time for a policy that protects our country!
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference alongside Merz last week that “migration is a common European challenge and it needs a common European solution.” But this particular issue of monthly payments is one that Merz and co. must work out on their own, or else their grip on slim voter support will slip further still.