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German FM concerned about sending Syrians back to their country
(MENAFN) German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has raised serious concerns about sending Syrian citizens back to their country, sparking a heated debate within his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.
Wadephul stated that returning Syrians is "only possible to a very limited extent at the present time, because a great deal of infrastructure in this country has indeed been destroyed," following his visit to Harasta, a suburb of Damascus, where he was struck by the extensive damage caused by the Syrian civil war (2011–2024).
His remarks drew sharp criticism from fellow CDU officials. Gunter Krings, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, called for the deportation of all Syrians required to leave Germany, dismissing Wadephul’s reasoning as "utterly unsuitable." Krings asked rhetorically, "Because who is supposed to rebuild a destroyed country if not its own citizens?"
The party’s Bavarian sister faction, the Christian Social Union (CSU), has also advocated for moving forward with mass repatriations. CSU parliamentary leader Alexander Hoffmann said it is "absolutely necessary and right" to formalize agreements with Syria, prioritizing the return of criminals and individuals deemed threats to public safety. He cited the coalition government’s agreement, which called for this approach. CSU General Secretary Martin Huber similarly emphasized the need for a "return strategy for Syrians," now that the civil war has ended.
The dispute underscores growing tension within Germany’s ruling party over how to handle the return of Syrian nationals, balancing humanitarian considerations with political and security priorities.
Wadephul stated that returning Syrians is "only possible to a very limited extent at the present time, because a great deal of infrastructure in this country has indeed been destroyed," following his visit to Harasta, a suburb of Damascus, where he was struck by the extensive damage caused by the Syrian civil war (2011–2024).
His remarks drew sharp criticism from fellow CDU officials. Gunter Krings, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, called for the deportation of all Syrians required to leave Germany, dismissing Wadephul’s reasoning as "utterly unsuitable." Krings asked rhetorically, "Because who is supposed to rebuild a destroyed country if not its own citizens?"
The party’s Bavarian sister faction, the Christian Social Union (CSU), has also advocated for moving forward with mass repatriations. CSU parliamentary leader Alexander Hoffmann said it is "absolutely necessary and right" to formalize agreements with Syria, prioritizing the return of criminals and individuals deemed threats to public safety. He cited the coalition government’s agreement, which called for this approach. CSU General Secretary Martin Huber similarly emphasized the need for a "return strategy for Syrians," now that the civil war has ended.
The dispute underscores growing tension within Germany’s ruling party over how to handle the return of Syrian nationals, balancing humanitarian considerations with political and security priorities.
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