Merz: No six figures number of refuges coming to Germany will be allowed anymore!
In first direct statements of its kind, the upcoming German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who is the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), he limited the potential number of refuges, that his government is willing to adhere, not to exceed the barrier of 99,999 asylum applications per year.
Merz who spoke in a German Channel ARD show, “Talk,” Merz, (68), said, “The numbers can no longer be in six figures”.
The upcoming German chancellor wants to reduce the number of new asylum applications to less than 100,000 annually, as in comparison, last year 2024, 229,751 initial asylum applications were filed in Germany, while in the first three months of 2025, 36,136 applications were registered – indicating a sharp downward trend compared to the previous year.
According to information obtained by Bild newspaper, Merz’s statement raised eyebrows among party leaders, particularly given that he had emphasized during his election campaign a “de facto ban on entry” for people without permits, while committing—according to the coalition agreement—to refusing entry to all illegal immigrants and asylum seekers at the border.
While the reduction to less than 100,000 steps is significant, it remains less than what Merz had previously promised.
Merz also revealed that negotiations with neighboring countries regarding the return of migrants have reached an advanced stage, explaining that French President Emmanuel Macron, supports this approach, in addition to his very good relations with the capitals Warsaw and Vienna.
He confirmed, “This will happen… I expect real cooperation… I believe the Austrian government is as interested in resolving the problem as we are”.
Party Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann, told the local German Rheinische Post newspaper, “it’s essential for the Christian Democratic Union to take over the Interior Ministry in the next government,” adding, “this will, for example, facilitate the organization of deportation flights”.
He added that his party intends to swiftly implement the provisions of the coalition agreement related to immigration, which include: organizing regular deportation flights, ending voluntary reception programs, and suspending family reunification for those granted subsidiary protection.
“By mid-July, these measures should be in place so people can feel that a real shift in immigration policy has begun,” he concluded.
