German chancellor Merz draws coalition ire over migrant remarks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing severe criticism from his own coalition government after making controversial statements linking migrants to urban safety issues. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) accused him of using divisive, far-right rhetoric that undermines public trust and stigmatizes entire communities.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has provoked a significant political crisis within his governing coalition following his remarks on migration and urban safety. The Chancellor's comments, which broadly linked migrants to problems in Germany's "cityscape," have been met with a sharp rebuke from his junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), marking one of the most serious public rifts since the government was formed.
Coolation Partner Condemns "Divisive" Rhetoric
SPD Secretary General Tim Klussendorf publicly condemned the Chancellor's language, stating it destroys public trust and unfairly generalizes about migrants. "We certainly have problems in Germany when it comes to crime and security," Klussendorf acknowledged in an interview, "But constantly reducing all of these problems to a single issue—migration—and mixing so many things together while generalizing about migrants is divisive and destroys trust." He emphasized that the nation should expect a higher standard of discourse from its highest office.
Merz Defends Stance on Deportations and Safety
The controversy stems from Merz's speech at an event in Potsdam, where he discussed the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The Chancellor defended his government's stricter migration policies and stated that irregular migrants remain a "problem in the cityscape," vowing to expedite large-scale deportations. When questioned by reporters, Merz doubled down, suggesting the public should "Ask your children, ask your daughters..." about safety after dark, and claimed to have received widespread support for his position.
Broad Criticism and Public Protests
The backlash extended beyond the coalition. The government's own Integration Commissioner, Natalie Pawlik, warned that such statements deepen social divisions and ultimately benefit the far-right. Opposition parties, including the Greens and the Left Party, joined the criticism, while approximately 5,000 people demonstrated in Berlin over the weekend, accusing Chancellor Merz of adopting AfD talking points and demanding an apology to migrants.
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