Debate on rising expenditure for asylum seeker benefits in Saxony

Dresden (dpa/sn) - Rising expenditure on asylum seeker benefits is also leading to a controversial debate in Saxony. As a question from BSW politician Sahra Wagenknecht in the Bundestag revealed, net expenditure in the Free State amounted to around 512 million euros last year. Compared to 2021, expenditure has thus increased by 84 percent. At that time, it was 278 million euros, in 2022 it was 450 million euros. This led to different reactions in politics.

Wagenknecht: Refugee numbers must fall

"Uncontrolled migration is causing asylum costs to explode and has long exceeded the financial capacities of the state. The fact that Saxony has to spend almost twice as much as in 2021 on asylum seeker benefits is unsustainable. The number of refugees must be reduced," Wagenknecht told the German Press Agency. Anyone who is rejected as an asylum seeker and does not receive protection status cannot continue to receive the same benefits.

"The current rules actually attract refugees to Germany because, in contrast to most other EU countries, it makes no difference in this country whether you are recognized as eligible for protection or not. Instead of spending more and more money on asylum benefits, more money should be spent on Saxon schools, for example," explained Wagenknecht.

Kretschmer also says: the number of refugees must be reduced

The AfD has repeatedly expressed similar views. There was also a growing number of voices in the ranks of the CDU in Saxony calling for migration to be limited. The number of refugees "must be reduced for the next few years", explained Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) in a recent interview. "We can only take in as many people as we can integrate," he argued.

The Left Party in the Saxon state parliament pointed out that the number of refugees being taken in doubled between 2021 and 2023. "However, the number of asylum seekers in the first half of 2024 fell by more than half compared to the previous year. It is no wonder that the state's expenditure is growing in line with the number of arrivals," MP Juliane Nagel told dpa.

This is due, for example, to the fact that the Free State is once again helping local authorities more with integration by passing on additional federal funding. It is also making more money available to cities and municipalities for the Ukrainian war victims.

Left: We want open borders for people in need

"Our goal is also to make refugees independent of social benefits as quickly as possible. Then the expenses will pay off quickly," emphasized Nagel. Many people seeking protection are not allowed to work for a long time, are not given a place on a language course and often work below their level of qualification.

"This also means that the state loses out on tax revenue. However, our society is dependent on workers and skilled workers. The people who have fled to us are a huge potential that is being exploited far too little." The authorities must use their leeway to open up prospects of staying.

"We want open borders for people in need. If we have learned anything from two terrible world wars, it is that people must have the opportunity to flee if they are threatened by war or persecution," said Nagel. This is essential for a civilized society. "No policy in the world can prevent migration. But it also triggers fears in some people in Saxony - especially when there are no personal experiences of their own. We are aware of this and advocate an objective, solution-oriented discussion."