Wed Feb 12 12:28:01 UTC 2025: ## Germany Extends Border Controls Amidst Election Pressure
**Berlin, Germany –** German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday the extension of temporary border controls for another six months. This decision, communicated to the European Union, comes less than two weeks before a crucial federal election and aims to demonstrate the government’s commitment to combating irregular migration.
The controls, initially implemented in September 2024, followed a surge in asylum seekers, particularly from the Middle East. They primarily target individuals arriving from neighboring EU countries, who are subject to the Dublin Regulation.
Chancellor Scholz cited data supporting the effectiveness of the measures. He stated that authorities rejected 47,000 individuals at the border, asylum applications decreased by one-third in 2024 compared to 2023, and 1,900 smugglers were arrested.
With the far-right AfD party polling strongly on an anti-immigration platform, the issue of migration has become a central concern in the upcoming election. The extension of border controls reflects the pressure on major political parties to address voter anxieties about immigration.
First Piper 