Merz vs. AfD: What's the Difference on Migration?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sparked outrage in the Bundestag by calling the AfD's term "remigration" a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color, drawing angry reactions from the party's lawmakers. Merz advocates for faster deportations of those without residency rights, focusing on foreign criminals, and has stated that with Syria's civil war over, there are no longer grounds for asylum in Germany. He also suggested up to 80 percent of Syrians could return within three years, though he later softened this figure. The term "remigration" gained prominence through a 2023 Potsdam meeting where right-wing figures discussed deporting not only those required to leave but also German citizens with migration backgrounds, a concept Merz's own policy does not endorse.