Germany's government announced temporary border controls at all of the country's land borders on Monday in what it called an attempt to tackle irregular migration and protect the public from threats such as islamist extremism the controls will start on September 16th and initially last for 6 months the interior Ministry said in a statement Germany has hardened its stance on migration in recent years as the government scrambles to retake the initiative after support for the far-right alternative for Germany has surged over the issue the announcement comes just two weeks ahead of an election in Brandenburg where Chancellor Olaf scholes and faser Center left Social Democrats SPD are fighting to retain control of the government the imposition of temporary border controls could be another test of European Unity Austria's interior Minister ghard carner told build newspaper on Monday that his country would not take in any migrants turned away by Germany at the border