BERLIN, Feb. 12 -- Germany's outgoing government on Wednesday extended by six months the border checks it imposed on all its frontiers last fall as it attempts to cut the number of migrants arriving in the country, an issue that has become a top issue in the campaign for the Feb. 23 election.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his government notified the European Union's executive commission of the extension to Sept. 15. "With the border controls, we are pushing irregular migration down successfully. The figures prove this," he said.

Germany turned back 47,000 people back at its borders, seeing one-third fewer asylum requests year-on-year and arresting 1,900 smugglers.

The country was already controlling its borders with Poland, the Czech Rep...