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Germany is taking action against abuse of social assistance for asylum seekers. In the summer, most states want to introduce a payment card on which money for asylum seekers can be loaded. The main purpose of this is to prevent migrants from sending money home or using it for smugglers.
For Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (57/CSU), this does not go far enough or far enough. As the newspaper ‘Bild’ reports, the ‘Bayern Card’ will be introduced as a pilot project in four communities in just a month. “We need effective restrictions on uncontrolled immigration as soon as possible. “This requires a reduction in incentives to come to Germany,” says Söder.
Huge limitations
This is what the Bayern card brings:
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Asylum seekers continue to receive a benefit of 460 euros per month. The extra pocket money of currently 182 euros will be reduced to 50 euros.
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You can only shop in the daily shops that are close to the shelter accommodation.
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Online shopping, gambling and transfers abroad are stopped.
Many proponents of the payment card for asylum seekers – including CDU leader Friedrich Merz (68) – believe that without cash withdrawals, one of the ‘essential reasons for residence’ for asylum seekers would no longer apply. Pilot projects in two CDU-run Thuringian districts seem to confirm this assumption; in any case, about 15 people have since left the district.
Also a problem in Switzerland
The topic is also well received in Switzerland. For example, the SVP St. Gallen has already demanded that asylum seekers in the canton only have their aid money paid out via such a bank card in the future.
SVP Land Councilor Mike Egger (31) also thinks the payment card is a good thing. He points out that the planned national introduction in Germany could lead to asylum seekers switching to Switzerland, where they will eventually have access to cash.
Egger therefore wants to submit an interpellation in the spring session. He wants to know from the Federal Council whether it also sees the introduction of such debit cards as a suitable means to prevent ‘abuse’ of state aid to asylum seekers.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
