German Parliament Approves Suspension of Family Reunification for Refugees with Subsidiary Protection for Two Years

The German parliament (Bundestag) approved a law on Friday suspending the family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection for a period of two years.

The bill was presented by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and received majority support in parliament, with 444 deputies voting in favor and 135 deputies rejecting it, according to a correspondent for Syrian television.

The session witnessed heated debates among parliamentary blocs, with some parties considering the decision as an additional restriction on refugees' rights and accusing the government of tightening restrictions on the most vulnerable groups.


The decision includes those who have obtained "subsidiary protection," who will temporarily not be allowed to bring their first-degree relatives such as spouses, minor children, or fathers of minor children to Germany.

The suspension will take effect for two years and was supported by deputies from the government coalition parties Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), as well as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, while it was opposed by deputies from the Green Party and the Left Party, according to Der Spiegel newspaper.