But SPD deputy Ralf Stegner later said the parties had reached a deal. Stegner said the figure described “expected migration numbers” and beyond that the parties stood by the right to asylum enshrined in Germany’s constitution. The parties agreed to encourage skilled migration using criteria such as qualifications, age and language skills. The parties also agreed to give German authorities the ability to deprive people with dual citizenship of their German citizenship if they fight abroad for an extremist organisation. Many SPD activists, who must ratify any coalition deal in a postal ballot, would prefer to see their party reinvent itself in opposition rather than join another coalition with Merkel after serving as junior partner from 2013 to 2017.

Source: Indian Express February 03, 2018 02:03 UTC