BERLIN, March 31 – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walked back controversial statements Tuesday regarding Syrian refugees returning to their native country, following sharp criticism from political leaders and economic experts who cautioned about potential severe financial repercussions from widespread departures.
During Monday’s press conference alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Merz had stated that approximately 80% of Germany’s Syrian population was anticipated to head back to Syria over the coming three years.
The chancellor faced immediate pushback from politicians across party lines, who criticized him for establishing what they viewed as an unattainable target while potentially undermining integration initiatives. Economic analysts also raised concerns that such a large-scale departure could worsen existing worker shortages across multiple industries.
“The Syrian president cited a figure of 80% of returnees within three years. We have taken note of this figure, but we are aware of the scale of the task,” Merz stated in his clarification.
Approximately one million Syrians currently reside in Germany, with many having arrived during the massive migration wave of 2015-2016 that occurred during Syria’s civil conflict. Increasing numbers have secured employment, particularly within construction, logistics and healthcare industries, while political discussions about immigration continue to heat up and the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gains momentum.
