Juso Chairman Philipp Türmer has strongly criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his response to an open letter from SPD members concerning the asylum policy of the coalition government. Scholz's claim, via his spokesperson, that the letter confirmed his stance was deemed a 'bad joke' by Türmer. He argued that no one intended the letter to support Scholz's position, pointing out that the Chancellor is well aware of this fact.
Signatories of the letter, including European, Bundestag, and state parliament members, called for respect for human dignity in asylum policies. They condemned measures such as border rejections and cuts to social benefits for refugees, labeling them as 'pseudo-solutions' that legitimize right-wing populist and extremist narratives. Over 10,500 people have supported the letter so far.
Türmer, a lead signatory, stressed that democratic parties should uphold humanity and solidarity during crises instead of succumbing to exclusionary tendencies. He criticized the government's security package introduced after the Solingen knife attack, describing it as part of a broader trend towards isolationism. Türmer envisions an SPD that protects human rights, defends asylum laws, and embodies social democratic values.
