Sahra Wagenknecht, Germany's most prominent left-wing politician, has called for strict limits on migration and a cap on benefits for asylum seekers.
"Chancellors and state premiers are obviously still failing to recognize the seriousness of the situation," Wagenknecht said in Berlin on Monday. "Just wanting to better distribute refugees and financial burdens is not enough. The numbers are far too high."
Wagenknecht spoke as a summit on migration policy was under way in Berlin between state and federal leaders.
Commenting on those negotiations, Wagenknecht said: "Today the message to the world should have been: Germany is overwhelmed, Germany has no more room, Germany is no longer prepared to be the number one destination."
She pointed to Denmark as an example of "how to regain control" and said smugglers should be punished "severely."
Last month, Wagenknecht announced a break with her previous party, the hard-left Die Linke, and the founding of a new party which is set to contest elections next year.
Though left-wing on economic issues, Wagenknecht positions herself closer to the far right on topics like migration, gender and climate.
Her position on migration was one reason for the rift with her former party.
