The Bundestag has approved the black-red coalition's new Federal Police Act (Bundespolizeigesetz) at the second attempt. The law grants the federal police additional powers to combat extremism and people-smuggling, and to apply for detention pending deportation or exit custody for foreigners who are legally obliged to leave the country.
The vote had to be repeated because of a procedural error discovered in July. At the time, only the majority of MPs present had voted in favour during the third reading — the normal rule for simple laws. For this legislation, however, the Basic Law requires approval by a majority of all Bundestag members, the so-called chancellor's majority of 316 MPs. "The final vote must therefore be repeated," parliamentary president Julia Klöckner said at the opening of the session.
This time the CDU/CSU and SPD requested a roll-call vote. According to Klöckner, 322 MPs voted in favour, reaching the required threshold; 134 voted against and 118 abstained.
The reform, parts of which date back to 1994, gives the federal police powers for telecommunications surveillance in the fight against extremism and people-smuggling. Within their area of responsibility, officers will also be able to apply themselves for deportation detention and exit custody for foreigners obliged to leave the country, to prevent them from going into hiding. The law also permits "random and occasion-free checks" in weapons and knife ban zones at railway stations and on trains. heise online's coverage adds that the coalition is paving the way for AI-supported real-time manhunt capabilities and the use of state trojans.
