BERLIN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Germany saw a 34% decrease in asylum applications last year, as reported by the interior ministry on Tuesday. The outgoing Social Democrat interior minister welcomed this news amid contentious debates regarding migration ahead of the national election scheduled for Feb. 23.
Concerns over migration have escalated due to several violent incidents involving immigrants in recent months, such as a car-ramming and a fatal knife attack that resulted in the deaths of eight people.
These apprehensions have fueled support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), positioned second in opinion polls behind the main conservative opposition.
The latest data revealed that Germany recorded 213,499 asylum applications in 2024, down from 322,636 the previous year. In January 2024, there was a 37% decrease in applications compared to the previous month.
In 2024, Federal Police recorded a nearly one-third decrease in illegal arrivals: 83,572 compared to 127,549 in 2023.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser remarked, This illustrates once more the effectiveness of our measures, while acknowledging the Social Democrats' current third-place standing in polls ahead of the election. She emphasized the continued strong stance of law enforcement against irregular migration.
Responding to public concerns, Germany implemented immigration checks at all its land borders last September, a move criticized by neighboring countries for contravening the European Union's principle of free movement.
Last week, Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader poised to become Germany's next chancellor, advocated for a non-binding parliamentary resolution aimed at further tightening border controls. Subsequently, parliament rejected a draft bill, also endorsed by Merz, proposing restrictions on family reunification and increased expulsions at the borders.
These votes sparked controversy in Germany for gaining support from the AfD, breaking a longstanding taboo among mainstream parties against engaging with the far-right party.
Migration's impact on the election campaign was evident as tens of thousands of people in Berlin protested on Sunday against the conservatives' endeavors to restrict immigration and the AfD.