Two out of three Germans now say they want to see Syrians return home, even with forced deportations from Germany. According to a poll by the INSA institute for the Bild tabloid, a large majority believes that the refugees who left the Syria during the civil war and do not have permanent residence status in Germany they should be repatriated.
This “hard” reflex is particularly pronounced among voters of the CDU/CSU Christian Union in Germany, where the 75% support the repatriation of Syrian nationalsbut it is also gaining ground in the social democratic camp: the 63% of SPD supporters also appear in favor of forced returns of Syrian nationals.
Another part of the research also highlights the limits of government rhetoric. Quota 52% of the respondents rejects the wording of Foreign Minister Johan Vandefulthat Syria is “in a worse situation than Germany in 1945”, while just the 29% agree with this comparison. Among CDU/CSU voters, 48% call it “untested”, as do 49% of SPD supporters.
The head of German diplomacy has been at the center of a fierce political debate in recent days over whether and under what conditions Syrians can be repatriated, while he himself describes the situation in their country as “catastrophic”. Within his party, several MPs even went so far as to call for his removal from the Foreign Office.
In the face of escalating tensions, Chancellor Friedrich Merz attempted to play down the tone. He stressed that there is “absolutely no reason for asylum” for Syrians and that deportations to Syria should resume “as soon as possible”, while reiterating his support for Johan Vadeful. A delicate political balance that reflects the increasing pressure of public opinion on Germany’s refugee and immigration policy.