The problem is “with those who do not have residence status, do not work and do not follow our rules”German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, clarifying his earlier statement regarding the “cityscape” borne, as he said, by immigrants. “Many people are afraid to go out in public places”added the chancellor, emphasizing at the same time that “we will continue to need immigration in the future”mainly for the labor market.

“The ones who bother me are the immigrants without the right to stay and a job, those who don’t follow the rules that apply in Germany. They partly define the public image in cities and affect train stations, the subway, some parks and entire neighborhoods and cause significant problems for our police.”said Mr. Mertz from London, on the sidelines of the Conference on the Western Balkans, clarifying however that Germany as well as other countries of the European Union will still need the migration and in the future, mainly for the labor market. “Already today, people with an immigrant background are an essential part of our labor market. We can no longer do without these people, regardless of origin, skin color and regardless of whether they are first or second or third or fourth generation immigrants living and working in Germany.”the chancellor emphasized.

Reactions continue

Mr. Mertz has caused widespread reactions in recent days with his statements on immigration. According to the chancellor, arrivals have dropped significantly, but “there is still a problem in the urban landscape.” Called upon to reconstruct, Friedrich Mertz not only refused, but also objected that “anyone who has a daughter knows the situation well, especially when it gets dark.” Tuesday night, approx 2,000 people demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in Berlin, with the slogan “we are the daughters”. Similar gatherings were held in other cities.

The chancellor’s statements were reacted mainly by representatives of the Greens and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), but also some CDU officials. Criticism is now also coming from the economy, with the head of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) Marcel Fratcher to declare to Handelsblatt that “the chancellor’s message weakens Germany’s culture of hospitality and will worsen the shortage of skilled workers in Germany in the coming years”. On behalf of the “Diakonia” organization, Mr Rüdiger Schuch emphasized that “immigrants are a natural part of our urban landscapes” for decades. “It’s just a part of us: with their companies, their cultures, as colleagues at work, as teammates at football clubs, as neighbours”he said characteristically and emphasized that “problems must be addressed and resolved with fact-based, non-belligerent, and mutually respectful policies.”

The vice-chancellor and leader of the SPD also returned to the issue Lars Klingbeilnoting that politicians need to be extremely careful about what kind of debate they spark when they suddenly divide people into “we” and “these”. “I want to live in a country where it is not judged by appearance whether or not someone fits into the urban landscape”he stated.

Even within the CDU there is criticism of the chancellor’s placement. The former party leader Armin Lasset spoke of “very general” statements that need explanation, while Mr. Mertz’s statements were rejected by the Christian Democrat mayor of Berlin Kai Wegner, speaking of “diverse, international and cosmopolitan city, something that will always be reflected in the urban landscape”. Problems with violence, littering and crime cannot be attributed to any nationality, he noted.