By Michael Sauerbier
That is embarrassing! After months of dispute, Brandenburg’s government had agreed on a new refugee policy. But in the case of the cities and municipalities, she flashes it off.
On Wednesday, the ministers should explain to the mayors and district administrators where they should accommodate 26,000 new refugees – and look after their children. But they couldn’t.
“The most important questions are still open,” stated the head of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, Oliver Herrmann (SPD), “Personnel. Rooms – everything is missing!”
Herrmann, along with district head Siegurd Heinze (non-party), demands that Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) make the refugee problem a top priority.
Time is of the essence: Because 39,000 refugees came to Brandenburg last year, all the shelters are full. There are no longer any daycare or school places for children.
Last week, the government promised that asylum seekers who had no chance would no longer be distributed among the communities, and that 3,000 new initial reception places would be built. But when and where, CDU Interior Minister Stübgen could not say. Only “in the third quarter”.
Then the head of the district burst. “The question of accommodation for refugees is an issue for us every day,” Heinze thundered, “not just in the third quarter or after the state elections!” The situation is so bad that the state should abolish compulsory schooling for new refugee children.
The anger of the district administrators at refugee minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) is huge. She had prevented a state deportation center for rejected asylum seekers. Heinze: “The days of diversity, tolerance and safe havens are over. Anyone who has not understood this has not arrived in reality!”
There should be a new refugee summit by May – under Woidke’s leadership.