Germany under terror attack

Since the end of last year, German politicians have been increasingly interested in the topics of internal security. Peace and stability in the country,  which is rightly considered the economic and political leader of the EU, faced serious challenges after a series of terrorist attacks, which may have quite tangible domestic impacts, considering this autumn's parliamentary elections. Against this background, the political elite of the country is proposing new measures to combat the terrorist threat in Europe, as well as reviewing its migration policy.

"The last terrorist attack at Berlin's Christmas market, in which 12 people were killed and more than 50 were seriously injured, is a bloody culmination of the several terrorist attacks of last year. There is a fundamental understanding among the Bundestag parties of what needs to be done for internal security, even if the absolute protection is, of course, an illusion. Even the opposition supports the fact that the police staff should be considerably increased. A more intensive monitoring of the individuals 'creating a threat', ie, those adherents of radical Islamist spectrum ready to violence, which, by the way, in many cases, were born and raised in Germany, will be also likely supported by the majority of parties," the Berlin political scientist, Heiko Langner, said commenting the current mood in the parliament. "However, the terrorist attack in Berlin is also the reason for the right-wing politicians, acting with the so-called position of 'law and order', to pull back their long-known proposals for the establishment of an authoritarian state, watching over its citizens. This includes such proposals as a massive expansion of law enforcement powers, starting from checks on persons to the introduction of the deportation prison," the expert warns.

At the same time, according to Langner, it is impossible to eliminate the threat of terrorism, using just a tightening of criminal law. He considers the initiative of Berlin's Interior Senator Andreas Geisel the most promising. Geisel suggests to combine a more stringent treatment of suspected terrorist individuals, known to law enforcement authorities, and improved surveillance of particular criminogenic districts with a parallel preventive social work, in particular, work with the youth. It would be a combination of rapid, effective responses to the known gaps in security and sustainable measures aimed at minimizing the strategic "home" hazard potential, using the tools of a social and not a police state.

"The reaction of right-wing AfD populists, which declared the people died in the terrorist attack the victims of the Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy, because in 2015 she uncontrollably opened the borders for a while, is disgusting. At the same time, they continually remain silent that, in fact, at that moment the opening of borders have been the only possible reaction to a severe humanitarian crisis, when there were masses of people in Budapest to which Orban's right-nationalist government turned its back," the analyst recalls. Further, Heiko Langner noted that the German government has reversed its "welcoming culture" in matters of refugees and migrants a long time. The number of readmission agreements has been increased and the increasing number of countries have been declared "safe" for returning refugees. Even the mass return of refugees to Afghanistan were carried out, although there is still a war going on and the 'Taliban' is stronger than ever. 'The European Fortress' wants to further isolate its external borders, due to which centers to apply for refugee status will be transferred to countries outside the EU. It will help to reject as many applications as possible already before the entry of people in the EU. "For Europe, such actions is a humiliating acknowledgement of its inadequacy in the human rights and moral bankruptcy issues," the expert concluded.