German gov't inches closer to "change of lanes" option in immigration system

新华社| 2018-10-01 23:26:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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BERLIN, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ruling "grand coalition" in Germany has taken a step towards resolving the contentious question of whether there should be the possibility of a so-called "change of lanes" in the country's immigration system, interior minister and Christian Social Union leader Horst Seehofer announced on Monday.

Speaking to press in Munich, Seehofer said he had reached an agreement with labor minister Hubertus Heil on the "foundation" for a related legislative overhaul.

According to Seehofer, the policy now targeted by the "grand coalition" would enable certain types of asylum seekers to apply for a regular work visa after having failed to secure residency on humanitarian grounds.

"When (someone) cannot be deported due to compelling reasons, namely reasons which are not to do with the asylum seeker as a person, then people say let them work before they sit around," Seehofer said, adding that this stance had also been his "position for a long, long time."

Seehofer hereby referred to foreigners who are legally duty-bound to leave Germany but are tolerated by authorities there due to mitigating circumstances, for example the use of torture in their country of origin. The statement marked a notable change in tone for the combative minister who has seen as a hard-liner on immigration.

Seehofer recently referring to immigration as the "mother of all political problems" and threatened to resign from his post over the summer unless chancellor Angela Merkel backed his own vision for stricter asylum policies.

"This is not a change of lanes. These are people which would have to leave but cannot because they have specific circumstances which are already regulated in law today," Seehofer insisted.

"Whoever has been rejected (in his asylum application note) and is legally duty bound to leave should leave (Germany). We will continue to uphold this basic principle," he added.

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