October 25, 2025
German rallies against Merz migration comments continue
Demonstrations against Chancellor Friedrich Merz‘s recent remarks on urban migration are expected to continue through the weekend.
During a visit to Potsdam last week, Merz spoke about his government’s efforts to toughen migration policy. The primary aim, he said, was to continue combating what he called illegal immigration.
“But we still have this problem in our cityscape, of course, and that’s why the federal interior minister is facilitating and carrying out large-scale deportations,” he said.
The remark has drawn widespread criticism, including from members of his coalition government.
Merz, when asked by a journalist on Monday to clarify the comment, doubled down, saying, “ask your daughters what I might have meant.”
On Wednesday, Merz clarified that he was referring to migrants without residence permits and jobs who do not comply with German laws.
In a survey commissioned by public broadcaster ZDF 63% of respondents said they agreed with the chancellor’s statements, while 29% said they disagreed.
However, only 18% of respondents said refugees cause issues in their neighbourhood, with some 74% stating that they have not noted any significant problems or none at all.
Social Democrat and Deputy Chancellor Lars Klingbeil appeared to criticize Merz’s choice of words in a speech to a trade union federation on Wednesday.
“I would like to live in a country in which politics builds bridges and brings society together, rather than dividing with language,” Klingbeil said. “And I will also say to you: I’d like to live in a country in which someone’s appearance does not decide whether or not they fit in a city’s image.”
Protests were planned on Saturday in Hamburg, Magdeburg and Nuremberg.
Several demonstrations have already occurred in recent days, with thousands taking part.
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