Merz doubles down on comments linking immigrants to fear

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has doubled down on comments about immigration, saying many Germans and Europeans are “afraid to walk in public.”

Merz has rejected criticism from some German political circles over his government’s tough stance on illegal immigration.

“But we still have this problem, of course, and that is why the federal interior minister is facilitating and carrying out mass deportations,” he said during a visit to Potsdam last week.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reacted by commenting on the country’s migration policies. (AP via Thomas Trasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix)

The statement sparked backlash, with some accusing the German leader of being a racist. Speaking on the sidelines of a summit on the Western Balkans in London, he rejected the criticism, saying migrants “are an indispensable part of our labor market,” German-based DW News reported.

He also claimed that many people in Germany and All of Europe Yet immigrants “who don’t have permanent residency status, don’t work and don’t follow our rules” are “afraid to walk in public,” the outlet reported.

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Berlin October 19, 2025 “Brandmauer Hoch!” A large number of protesters gathered for the demonstration with these slogans. (“We are the cityscape”), referring to a statement made by Chancellor Merz regarding migration policy. (Annette Riddle/Photo Alliance via Getty Images)

“I don’t know if you have children or not. If you do and there are daughters among them, ask your daughters what I mean. I doubt you will get a clear and unambiguous answer. I have no need to retract,” he said when asked if he would retract his earlier comment.

Some have signed a petition disputing Merz’s comments. Signatories including the actor Mary Naseman and environmental activist Louisa Neubauer.

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“There are approximately 40 million girls in this country. We have a real interest in making sure our safety is taken seriously,” Neubauer wrote on Instagram. “What we are not interested in is ultimately being misused as an excuse or justification for discriminatory, racist and deeply hurtful statements.”