THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Horst Seehofer, Germany’s designated interior minister, has said he has a “master plan for faster asylum procedures, and more consistent deportations.” He also said there was a need for a strong state to protect Germany’s liberal values.
The incoming interior minister, who is head of the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), made the comments in an interview published on Sunday.
“The number of deportations must be increased significantly. We need to take tougher action, especially in the case of criminals and perpetrators among asylum seekers,” Seehofer told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
Seehofer, who has been critical of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s immigration policies, said decisions on asylum applications must be made in a few months rather than in a year or more.
‘Strong state’
Seehofer also vowed to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy toward criminals.
“We want to remain an open-minded and liberal country. But when it comes to protecting our citizens, we need a strong state. I’ll make sure of that,” Seehofer said.
The future interior minister called for effective video surveillance at every hot spot in the country.
“There has to be a consensus throughout Germany that we will no longer tolerate lawless zones,” he said.
Seehofer will take over the newly renamed and enhanced Interior, Construction and Homeland (“Heimat”) Ministry in the new coalition government.
ap/aw (Reuters, dpa)/DW
