German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Monday that Syrian refugees living in Germany should return home now that the war in their country has ended, warning that those who refuse to do so will face deportation.
In his latest tough remarks on migration, Merz argued there was “no longer any reason” for Syrians who fled the country’s brutal 13-year conflict to remain in Germany.
“For those who refuse to go back to their country, we can, of course, proceed with deportations,” Merz said during a visit to Husum, northern Germany.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said last Thursday during a visit to Damascus that the potential for Syrians to return remains “very limited”, as most of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed by the war.
The statement triggered a strong reaction within the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz and Wadephul, which has been seeking to counter the rise of far-right parties by taking a tougher stance on migration.
Merz also revealed that he had invited Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces overthrew former ruler Bashar al-Assad last year, to visit Germany for discussions on how both nations could “solve this issue together.”
“Syria needs all its strength — especially its own people — to rebuild,” Merz added, expressing confidence that many Syrians would return voluntarily.
Approximately one million Syrians currently live in Germany, most of whom fled the civil war during the 2015–2016 refugee crisis.
