Horst Seehofer, Germany's designated interior minister, said he plans to put in place a "master plan" to speed up asylum procedures and ensure consistent deportations in comments published on Sunday.
"The number of deportations must be increased significantly. We need to take tougher action, especially in the case of criminals and perpetrators among asylum seekers," Seehofer told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
Seehofer, who has been critical of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's immigration policies, said decisions on asylum applications must be made in a few months rather than in a year or more.
Read more: Opinion: An 'upper limit' on refugees — by any other name
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Chancellor: Angela Merkel (CDU)
The new chancellor will be the same as the old one: Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel. It will be her fourth term as leader of the German government and the third time she heads up a grand coalition between the CDU, its conservative Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democrats (SPD). It is also expected to be her last term as chancellor.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Chief of Staff at the Chancellery: Helge Braun (CDU)
Helge Braun, who is currently minister of state at the Chancellery, has been nominated by Merkel for the promotion to Chancellery head. He would take over from Peter Altmaier. Braun's rise within the body would ensure a certain continuity.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of the Interior, Heimat and Construction: Horst Seehofer (CSU)
Seehofer, Bavaria's soon-to-be former state premier and chairman of the CSU, will head Germany's newly expanded Interior Ministry. This will be the first time that the vaguely patriotic "Heimat" concept (roughly "homeland") is included in a federal minister's domain. Bavaria, however, has had a state Heimat Ministry for five years.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
The fight for the Foreign Ministry: Heiko Maas (SPD)
The most-talked about position in the upcoming Cabinet is that of foreign minister. After the SPD and CDU/CSU agreed on a policy blueprint, it became apparent that Sigmar Gabriel would not keep his position as head of the Foreign Ministry. He will be succeeded by former Justice Minister Heiko Maas.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Finance Minister: Olaf Scholz (SPD)
Scholz nomination for finance minister had been rumored for weeks. Currently the mayor of Hamburg, he is considered the high-level SPD politician with the most financial expertise. Scholz has been in Merkel's Cabinet once before, as minister of labor and social affairs from 2007 to 2009. The Finance Ministry's capture was a significant win for the SPD. Scholz will also serve as vice-chancellor.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Defense: Ursula von der Leyen (CDU)
Von der Leyen has been defense minister since 2013 and has now been tapped by Merkel to keep the job. This comes despite numerous scandals within the Bundeswehr, Germany's military, that broke since she took over the Defense Ministry. Her relationship with the troops has suffered, but Merkel trusts her. German media has speculated that Von der Leyen could be a potential successor to Merkel.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Economic and Energy Affairs Minister: Peter Altmaier (CDU)
Altmaier, currently Merkel's chief of staff at the Chancellery, has been nominated to take over the Economy Ministry. This would be the first time in more than 50 years that a CDU politician holds that post. Altmaier is regarded as extremely loyal to the chancellor. Questions of renewable energy and energy networks will also fall into Altmaier's portfolio.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection: Katarina Barley (SPD)
Heiko Maas was justice minister during the last government's term, but he's now taken over the reigns at the Foreign Ministry. Trained lawyer Katarina Barley will take on the post. She served as both minister of family affairs and minister of labor in 2017 as part of the previous government.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs: Hubertus Heil (SPD)
Andrea Nahles will step down as labor minister to lead the SPD following Martin Schulz's decision to resign. Her successor, Hubertus Heil, was the surprise announcement when the SPD unveiled its Cabinet ministers. A member of the Bundestag since 1998, Heil has twice served as the party's secretary general.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister for the Environment: Svenja Schulze (pictured) or Matthias Miersch (both SPD)
Barbara Hendricks, Germany's outgoing minister for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety has reached retirement age. While she may well have liked to stay on in her job, the SPD leadership announced it was seeking a successor. Svenja Schulze will take over, having previously served as minister for innovation, science and research in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister for Health: Jens Spahn (CDU)
Merkel's nominee for health minister stands out: The 37-year-old Jens Spahn not only represents a new political generation within the CDU, but was also heavily critical of Merkel's welcoming policy toward refugees. In the last government he served as the parliamentary state secretary for the finance ministry, but prior to that he helped lead the CDU's health policy in the Bundestag.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Education and Research: Anja Karliczek (CDU)
Anja Karliczek, a former hotel manager who is relatively unknown, was nominated by Merkel to take over the Education Ministry. The new education minister will have a lot of money to spend: The ministry's budget was recently increased by €11 billion ($13.6 billion) to pay for school and university improvements, especially with respect to digitalization.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Franziska Giffey's elevation from the mayor of Berlin's Neukölln district to Cabinet minister is perhaps the most eye-catching appointment. Giffey will bypass the Bundestag altogether to ascend into the government, but the SPD leadership believes her experience in charge of what has often been described as Berlin's "troubled" district makes her the most suitable candidate for the role.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development: Gerd Müller (CSU)
Gerd Müller, 62, has been tapped to retain his position as development minister, which he has held since December 2013. He won the job over fellow CSU member Dorothee Bär, who was also in the running. The CSU has thus chosen three men for its Cabinet posts, while Bär will become the state minister for digital affairs in the chancellery, a newly created job.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure: Andreas Scheuer (CSU)
Scheuer, considered a close ally of CSU party head Seehofer, is to take the Transport Ministry. He has had experience in the area: From 2009 to 2013, he held the position of parliamentary state secretary in the Transport Ministry. Right now, he is the CSU's Secretary General.
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Ministers under Merkel: Germany's new government
Minister for Food and Agriculture: Julia Klöckner (CDU)
Klöckner has been tapped to head the Agriculture Ministry, where she worked as parliamentary state secretary from 2009 to 2011. She is currently a deputy federal chairwoman of her party and leads the CDU in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Klöckner is the perfect candidate for Merkel, who has been called upon to assemble a younger and more female Cabinet this time around.
Author: Carla Bleiker
'Strong state'
The head of the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) vowed to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy toward criminals.
"We want to remain an open-minded and liberal country. But when it comes to protecting our citizens, we need a strong state. I'll make sure of that," Seehofer said.
The future interior minister called for effective video surveillance at every hot spot in the country.
"There has to be a consensus throughout Germany that we will no longer tolerate lawless zones," he said.
Seehofer will take over the newly renamed and enhanced Interior, Construction and Homeland ("Heimat") Ministry in the upcoming coalition government.
Read more: A deeper look at Germany's new Interior and Heimat Ministry
ap/aw (Reuters, dpa)
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
Something to take away the pain
Horst Seehofer (right) has effectively lived, breathed and eaten CSU values, probably since he was born. The 68-year-old has been at the helm of the party and Bavaria since 2008 and has, thus far, staved off challenges to his throne by young upstarts such as Markus Söder (left). More on him a little later. But in the wake of a crushing September election result, Seehofer may no longer be tenable.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow
In end, he kept everyone waiting. Horst Seehofer postponed a highly-anticipated announcement on his own political future at the very last minute on Thursday. The signs are that he may be prepared to condede a portion of his power. But a final decision on the state premiership of Bavaria may not come until December.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
'I get knocked down, but I get up again'
Lyrics from what is possibly Markus Söder's favorite tune. One of the pretenders to Seehofer's throne, the finance minister has been forging alliances within the CSU to prop up his position as the next-in-line. Problem is, his boss doesn't see it that way and quite frankly doesn't like him. Standing in front of the Acropolis might be the pinnacle for him — akro is Greek for "highest point."
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
Let's see what this button does
Arguably the smoothest of the CSU's smooth operators, Alexander Dobrindt has made a name for himself at the national level as transport minister — but not necessarily for the right reasons: Dieselgate, a controversial road toll and the farce that is the planned Berlin-Brandenburg airport, to be completed in...oh, stop it. Anyway, Seehofer seems to like him and his checkered suits.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
Into the light
Unassuming but not to be underestimated, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann is respected beyond the state and was touted to head up the federal Interior Ministry before it all went pear-shaped. He's known for his tough stance on a refugee cap, an issue dear to his boss Seehofer's heart. His age, 61, may count against him if the CSU really does want to rejuvenate.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
You think my hat looks silly? Look behind me
While she may need to work on her hat choices, deputy premier and Bavarian Economics Minister Ilse Aigner at least has a clear idea of what she wants politically. She's positioned herself as a possible Seehofer successor, much to his chagrin, by calling for a primary to decide on who should lead the CSU in next year's state election.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
I'll get my coat then
Manfred Weber heads the European People's Party in the European Parliament — don't fall asleep just yet. While that would normally exclude him from new pastures within the CSU, on the grounds of being boring, he's seen as one of Seehofer's key confidants and has defended his boss against attacks from the CSU's youth wing. He's been a steadying influence within the party.
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CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
The Dark Knight rises
Remember Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg? He of the slicked-back, jet-black hair and a plagiarized dissertation? The thing is, the people in Bavaria love him and Germany arguably never had a cooler-looking defense minister. But, more importantly, Seehofer has made no attempts to hide his admiration and sees Guttenberg as his and the party's natural hair, er, heir.
Author: Rob Mudge
