After a controversial meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that most Syrians should go home, according to Politico.
On the 30th of March, during a joint press conference with al-Sharaa in Berlin, Merz said that over the next three years, about 80% of Syrians currently living in Germany should go home. According to the chancellor, certain groups of people, such as doctors and nurses, will be allowed to stay. Merz said that the civil war in Syria is over and that the opportunity to return is now opening up, and that together with the Syrian government, we can make it possible.
Millions of Syrians fled the country when the civil war broke out in 2011, and many arrived in Germany during the 2015-2016 migration crisis. At the end of 2025, about 1.23 million people of Syrian origin were registered in Germany.
Restricting migration was one of the cornerstones of Merz’s 2025 election campaign,
and he is currently seeking cooperation with Damascus to organize the return of Syrians who have no legal reason to stay in Germany. The chancellor insists that the initiative will help create the conditions for economic growth in Syria and promote the reconstruction of the country.
Opponents of the Syrian leader have criticized the German government for its warm welcome to al-Sharra. As of December 2024, the United States had offered a 10 million dollar reward for the arrest of the current president. According to Berlin police, around 120 protesters had gathered outside the chancellor’s office. One of the main arguments of the protesters was the repression of Syrian minorities, including Christians, by the government led by al-Sharaa.
Read also: Merz wants to send Syrian refugees home
Read also: Syria to join US-led coalition against Islamic State
The post Merz: Most Syrians should return home appeared first on Baltic News Network.
