German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Apparently eager to say Goodbye to Syrians residing in Germany, the chancellor defended, before the Syrian president, that his compatriots should “return to their country of origin”. Merz’s statements drew criticism even from members of his own government.
The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merzwas the target of criticism from several NGOs and members of his own Government after arguing, on Monday, that the vast majority of Syrians live in Germany “should return to his homeland“.
The statements by Merz, elected last year after a campaign in which he promised to follow a hard line on immigrationin an attempt to stop the extreme rightwere delivered during a visit to Berlin by the President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
According to , Merz explained that Berlin’s priority, in terms of expulsions, was deport Syrians quo Syrian president they would work no sense of promoting large-scale returns from Germanya country that hosts the largest Syrian diaspora in the European Union.
“From a broader perspectivein the next three yearsthis was President al-Sharaa’s wish: that around 80% of Syrians currently living in Germany return to your homeland.”said Merz, invoking the need to rebuild a country devastated by war.
Al-Sharaa, former Islamist rebel leadera, did not confirm the objective of returning 80% of the more than 900 thousand Syrian citizens registered in Germany by 2029, and the number seemed to take me by surprise political leaders in Berlin.
Anke Rehlingerdeputy leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), who are part of the government coalition, accused Merz of fplay the Alternative für Deutschland game (AfD), an anti-immigration and anti-Islam party, by setting a target for repatriations in 2029, the year in which Germany is expected to hold legislative elections again.
“It is not wise of the chancellor moving forward with concrete numbers within specific deadlines, because this creates expectations that we may not be able to meet,” he told the Funke newspaper group.
Rehlinger showed understanding for al-Sharaa’s call for Syrians to help in rebuilding your country. “However, many Syrians are ours today fellow citizens, because they integrated herework in professions where there is a shortage of labor, care for the elderly or drive buses, and often have even acquired German nationality”, he stated.
Nearly 244 thousand Syrian citizens obtained a passport German between 2016 and 2024, the largest group among new naturalized citizens in that period.
As Criticism also arose within the CDUMerz’s conservative party. Om the party’s foreign policy spokesman, Roderich Kiesewetterconsidered “problematic in several aspects” the numbers cited by the chancellor.
Kiesewetter stressed that the AfD will be able to capitalize politically any unfulfilled promises and drew attention to the role of skilled Syrian workers in the German economy. “If they return, we will have a problem,” he told economic newspaper Handelsblatt.
The German Hospital Society, which represents the interests of the sector, highlighted the “considerable importance” of Syrian doctorswith 5745 working in German clinics — the largest group of foreign doctors. Another 2000 Syrians work as caregivers.
“If these skilled Syrian workers were to leave the country again, that would have a significant impact on healthcare”, stated the organization’s vice president, Henriette Neumeyer.
Franziska Brantner, co-leader of the opposition Greens called Merz’s repatriation goal “irresponsible“For many people, returning to Syria is simply not an option at all,” Brantner said, pointing out the risks of security and lack of trust of many Syrians in the political transition.
Also a Greens deputy Luise Amtsberg denounced Merz’s statements as “shameful”.
Faced with persistent instability in Syria and the ongoing threats faced by minority groups in the country, migrant rights organization Pro Asyl called for the immediate end to deportations to Syria and a policy “oriented not by short-term migration deterrence, but by human rights, protection and long-term stability”.
Merz took office in May last year, heading a coalition with the center-left SPD, which promised break with border politics more open defended by the also Christian Democrat Angela Merkel.
Merkel, who ruled Germany for 16 years until 2021, allowed the entry of around 1.3 million people fleeing war and oppression in the Middle East and Afghanistan between 2015 and 2016.
That decision, initially popularwould end up causing an adverse reaction that gave political fuel to the AfDtoday the largest opposition party in the country.
Merz acknowledged that many of the Syrians who arrived in Europe’s main economy under Merkel’s government had made a vital contribution to German society, but added that the majority now want to returnonce the Bashar al-Assad regime was deposed.
Official statistics show that more than 3700 Syrians returned voluntarily from Germany until November 2025. Experts emphasize that forced deportations usually face long legal battles.
Faced with criticism, Merz appeared to retreat, on Tuesday, in relation to the concrete goal he had stated. “THE 80% number of returns within three years was referred to by the Syrian president“, declared Merz, quoted by Bild. “We take note of this number, but we are aware of the size of the task.”
