German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has openly contradicted his foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, over whether Syrian refugees should be sent back. Merz says deportations should begin because the civil war is over, while Wadephul argues returns are only possible to a very limited extent and would violate refugees’ dignity.
Merz said he expects many Syrians to voluntarily return home to assist in rebuilding the country, but added that “those who refuse to return can, of course, be deported.”
The Federal Ministry of the Interior is currently developing plans for the deportation of Syrian criminals. Merz also announced he had invited Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to Germany to discuss cooperation on reconstruction.
His remarks stand in direct contrast to Wadephul’s position. During his recent visit to Syria, the foreign minister described deportations as “only possible to a very limited extent.” He argued that returning refugees under such conditions would violate their “dignity.”
As we previously reported, Wadephul said over the weekend that he does not expect many Syrian refugees in Germany to return to their homeland soon.