Will Germany's new government keep the 'Deutschlandticket'?

Local Germany

2 days ago

Local Germany

INTERVIEW: 'Don't let fear deter you from new life in Germany,' minister urges

A decade ago in 2015, as the civil war in Syria grew into even more brutal and bloody conflict, Germany opened its door to hundreds of thousands of refugees. At train stations in cities like Munich and Berlin, groups of people waited to greet the new arrivals, bearing offers of support and shelter, along with water and chocolate bars. For Dr. Andreas Philippi, Lower Saxony's Minister for Labour and Integration and chair of the German Integration Ministers' Conference, this moment marked a high point for Germany. Faced with those fleeing war and persecution, he said, the country experienced a collective "wave of empathy". "You may remember the Chancellor (Angela Merkel) saying, 'We can do this,' and it worked wonderfully because we were a strong country that had built itself up over decades," he told The Local. "We had many resources, we embraced the situation, and we also had a history." Ten years later, however, the tone on immigration has shifted dramatically. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved record results in February's election, and the public debate is dominated by anger, resentment and fear. This is despite the fact that the demographics in Germany are shifting, and around 26 percent of the population now has a migration background. "Fear in people's minds remains," said Philippi. "Fear of foreigners, fear of change. Before the federal election, there were several attacks involving migrants - some were mentally ill, some stateless - and the media coverage reinforced this primal fear of the 'other'." According to the SPD politician, the attacks and their subsequent media coverage has whipped up a far more widespread distrust of migrants - despite the fact that the perpetrators represent just a tiny proportion of foreigners in Germany. "It results in the entire group being judged by the actions of a minuscule few - something like '0.00003' percent. That's one reason why we've struggled, for example, to convince people in Eastern Germany that the AfD's fear-based policies are wrongfully targeted at minorities and newcomers,' Philippi added. 'As we saw during the election campaign, the focus wasn't on unity, but rather on spreading fear. Politicians like Friedrich Merz took clear positions - even getting support from the AfD at one point - despite knowing their demands weren't compatible with European or international law.' READ ALSO: How German media reveals its bias when foreigners commit crimes In contrast to Merkel's famous phrase - "Wir schaffen das" - the current CDU-led government has focused on pulling up the drawbridge to stop the influx of migrants. Just days after taking office, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) ordered police to step up checks at all of Germany's land borders and reject almost all asylum seekers trying to enter the country. Advertisement Vital for prosperity When Germany's state integration ministers gathered in Göttingen in April for the annual Integration Ministers Conference, they were swimming against this anti-migrant tide. The ministers looked at measures to help foreigners find their feet in the country, learn German and enter the workplace successfully. Andreas Philippi (SPD) is seen behind a globe placed on the table at a press conference at the end of the two-day Integration Ministers' Conference (IntMK). Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd Wüstneck According to the Institute for Labour Research (IAB), Germany requires at least 400,000 workers to move to the country per year in order to maintain its supply of labour. This will be vital for ensuring growth and shoring up the country's welfare and pensions system. "From a labour market perspective, we see that the balance between working and non-working populations only remains stable because of immigration," said Philippi. "Without it, we'll face a shortage of 33 percent of the workforce in the next 20 to 30 years. That would mean Germany will no longer be able to maintain its prosperity as we have done, through work and through taxation." Currently, the most urgent need for workers is in four key sectors: healthcare, logistics, construction and hospitality. However, the Lower Saxony Labour Minister says there is a demand for workers everywhere. With such an urgent need for new talent, integrating foreigners into work and society becomes a vital part of Germany's economic success. Advertisement As part of this long-term goal, Germany rolled out its new digital visa portal at the start of the year, with the aim of making the application process far quicker and more efficient. In places like India and Indonesia, where waiting times for an appointment can stretch up to nine months, this work is still ongoing. However, for Philippi, the most important part of the process begins after arrival. "Integration doesn't begin with the journey here; it starts once people are here, once they have their papers and decide to stay,' he explained. That was one of the primary lessons of the Syrian refugee crisis, he added. Concrete steps Despite the perceptible lurch to the right in German politics, there have been several steps forward over the last decade when it comes to welcoming foreigners. Among the most significant was the traffic-light coalition's landmark reform of citizenship, reducing residence requirements to five years from eight and ending a ban on dual nationality. This, along with the introduction of new language and integration courses and moves to speed up recognition of qualifications, was seen as major win for the integration ministers. READ ALSO: Germany's dual citizenship law to remain under future CDU/SPD coalition But Philippi believes there's still work to do. Advertisement One concrete example of this work is Adelante Colombia : a collaborative project between Lower Saxony's Work and Social Ministry and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The initial goal is to recruit 50 young people from Colombia, where the unemployment rate is 25 percent, to train in Germany's struggling healthcare and life sciences industries. "We've selected young people who are learning German and are motivated to train in healthcare-related jobs," Philippi explained. "We'll ensure they get passports, visas, and places to continue their training here in Germany. They'll arrive in communities where there are already Spanish-speaking networks, which will ease integration. We call the concept: work together, live together." Beyond projects to recruit workers from abroad, integration ministers also want to dismantle hurdles that workers can face on arrival. This includes expanding Welcome Centres - a first port of call to help foreigners navigate German bureaucracy and settle into the country. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits a welcome centre for Ukrainian refugees in Romania which shows what such centres in Germany could looks like. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd von Jutrczenka It also involves improving the clunky and fragmented process of getting foreign qualifications recognised - not only by speeding up administration but also by lowering the bar. "Our goal is quick recognition," said Philippi. "In less complex professions, it's better to get people into companies early, where they'll learn the language faster. "We should also reconsider how difficult the exams are. German is a tough language - I met four Moroccan men who were great practical workers but failed because the test questions were too hard. We might need to ease up in some areas." Another way of simplifying the process is to apply less-rigid criteria, he added: "Not just checking curriculums or exam results, but also conducting competency assessments to see what applicants actually know." Advertisement Speeding up processes In future, the goal is to give applicants a preliminary decision within four weeks, with the vast majority receiving full recognition within three months - or six in the most complicated cases. This would mark a major improvement on current waiting times, which can stretch up to a year. Philippi believes a similar goal should be in place for citizenship applications, which can take a notoriously long time to process. With naturalisation offices chronically understaffed and overwhelmed with applications - many of them from former Syrian refugees - eligible candidates can find themselves waiting years to finally receive an answer. READ ALSO: Which German cities have the longest waiting times for citizenship? "As politicians, we have a strong interest in improving bureaucratic efficiency - either by hiring more staff or reducing bureaucracy itself," he said. "If someone has submitted everything and is eligible, it absolutely shouldn't take two years. Once everything is in order, it should not take longer than three months to make a decision - and even that feels too long." Despite the integration ministers' best efforts, however, some fear that the anti-immigrant tone in Germany will still be off-putting to foreigners. While pulling up the drawbridge for asylum seekers, the very skilled workers Germany wants to attract may well decide to go elsewhere. READ ALSO: 'Slap in the face' - Applicants blast Germany's plan to scrap citizenship reform "Of course, some will choose a liberal country like Canada over a right-leaning Germany, especially if they fear discrimination because of their skin colour - that worries me deeply," Philippi said. "But we can only urge people: don't let fear deter you." Advertisement While the headlines may be dominated by anti-migrant rhetoric, the work of making it easier to settle in Germany will continue quietly in the background - with local leaders like Philippi striving to improve the system step by step. READ ALSO: 'A fifth of voters hate me' - How do foreigners in Germany feel about far-right surge?

Chancellor Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

DW

3 days ago

DW

Chancellor Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Washington was met with favorable coverage back home, with many hailing a new political style that contrasts with that of his predecessors, Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. The consensus was that he handled it quite well: The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz got through his first visit to US President Donald Trump without any heated exchanges or diplomatic faux pas. Although he hardly had a chance to speak during the nearly 50-minute press conference in the Oval Office, he was able to say that Germany will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. For his part, Trump treated the conservative politician with more respect than he did former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was not invited to the White House, or Angela Merkel, whom Trump once famously refused to shake hands with in the Oval Office. Things have been pretty busy in German politics since May 6, when Merz, of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took office. Since then, Germany's new head of government has made surprising statements and bold announcements nearly every week. 'A very close cooperation' says Merz after meeting Trump To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is in contrast to his predecessor Scholz, of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), who became known for his tendency to keep the public in the dark about his plans. Scholz had consistently urged his staff to adhere to the motto: "We will not be upset, we will not become hysterical." In other words, he was at pains to convey a sense of calm. Merz: A politician full of impatience Merz, on the other hand, never hid his impatience at having to wait so long in the wings before finally securing the office he so coveted: In 2002, he lost a power struggle with Merkel for the leadership of the CDU. Frustrated, Merz moved into the private sector and only returned to politics when it became clear that Merkel intended to step down in 2021. Four years later, at the age of 69, he finally reached the pinnacle of power in Germany. The chancellorship is the first public office Merz has held in his life. Scholz and Merz couldn't have more different personalities. The former is a sober, soft-spoken northern German who had plenty of government experience before he became chancellor. Scholz was the mayor of Hamburg and then the federal finance minister under Merkel. By contrast, Merz, by nature very conservative and easily irritated, rose quickly through his party ranks even without administrative political experience. Nor are the two politicians particularly fond of each other. 'What can we do?' versus 'We must do this!' DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner knows both men well, having accompanied the two leaders on several foreign trips. Reflecting on the different styles of the two politicians and their predecessor, she noted: "While Merkel always thought with the outcome in mind and Scholz was reluctant to even describe a political goal before he had paved the way for it, Merz clearly defines his goals." According to Küfner's analysis, this represents a significant political shift in itself. Germany promises Ukraine around €5 billion more in support To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Policy on Ukraine It took Scholz until the summer of 2022 to visit Ukraine, which had been invaded by Russia in the spring of that year. For a long time, Scholz remained secretive about whether he would supply weapons to the embattled country — though in the end he did. Merz, on the other hand, visited Ukraine within days of taking office, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, when they announced that there would soon be a ceasefire and peace talks. But this still hasn't come to pass, while President Donald Trump appears to have backed out of his earlier commitment to forge a lasting peace. Given the US president's unpredictability, this was not really a surprise, something Scholz would certainly have taken into account. "Following the strong performance with Macron, Tusk, and Starmer came this diplomatic embarrassment," says Berlin-based correspondent Küfner. "Merz still has to prove that this defeat can translate into strong leadership." Why is Germany toughening its tone on Israel now? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany and Israel The change in style in Germany's policy toward Israel is even more noticeable. After the Islamist militia Hamas attacked Israelin October 2023, Scholz's response was essentially to insist on Israel's right to defend itself. This remained his stance even as the Israeli army took increasingly brutal action against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The European Union, as well as the United States, Germany and several other countries classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. As an opposition politician at the time, Merz also showed strong support for Israel and even announced that, unlike Scholz, he would demonstrate that support by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the chancellery. That stance did not waver even after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last November for crimes against humanity. But soon after taking office, he made something of a U-turn: A few days ago, Merz said he no longer understood Israel's actions in the Gaza war, before adding that they could no longer be justified as a legitimate fight against Hamas terrorism. Never before has a chancellor spoken so bluntly about the actions of the Israeli government. Küfner says: "Merz's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is a historic step. He is not afraid to directly criticize the Israeli prime minister about alleged violations of international law. This is a new tone from Germany." With this, Merz begged a question that Scholz had successfully avoided: How far does the German reason of state, the commitment to Israel's security, actually extend? What this will mean in practical terms for German-Israeli relations remains to be seen. Even under Scholz, arms deliveries to Israel had been relatively limited, and Merz has not announced an end to these deliveries. Nor has he repeated his earlier invitation to Netanyahu. In practical terms, not much has really changed, but the tone is definitely different. This is likely to continue over the coming weeks. Germany will have to get used to the chancellor's new political style. Meanwhile, Scholz is now observing all this from his position as an ordinary member of the Bundestag. And he has not yet made any comments on his successor's policies. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.

Friedrich Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

DW

5 days ago

DW

Friedrich Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Washington was met with favorable coverage back home, with many hailing a new political style that contrasts with that of his predecessors, Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. The consensus was that he handled it quite well: The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz got through his first visit to US President Donald Trump without any heated exchanges or diplomatic faux pas. Although he hardly had a chance to speak during the nearly 50-minute press conference in the Oval Office, he was able to say that Germany will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. For his part, Trump treated the conservative politician with more respect than he did former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was not invited to the White House, or Angela Merkel, whom Trump once famously refused to shake hands with in the Oval Office. Things have been pretty busy in German politics since May 6, when Merz, of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took office. Since then, Germany's new head of government has made surprising statements and bold announcements nearly every week. 'A very close cooperation' says Merz after meeting Trump To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is in contrast to his predecessor Scholz, of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), who became known for his tendency to keep the public in the dark about his plans. Scholz had consistently urged his staff to adhere to the motto: "We will not be upset, we will not become hysterical." In other words, he was at pains to convey a sense of calm. Merz: A politician full of impatience Merz, on the other hand, never hid his impatience at having to wait so long in the wings before finally securing the office he so coveted: In 2002, he lost a power struggle with Merkel for the leadership of the CDU. Frustrated, Merz moved into the private sector and only returned to politics when it became clear that Merkel intended to step down in 2021. Four years later, at the age of 69, he finally reached the pinnacle of power in Germany. The chancellorship is the first public office Merz has held in his life. Scholz and Merz couldn't have more different personalities. The former is a sober, soft-spoken northern German who had plenty of government experience before he became chancellor. Scholz was the mayor of Hamburg and then the federal finance minister under Merkel. By contrast, Merz, by nature very conservative and easily irritated, rose quickly through his party ranks even without administrative political experience. Nor are the two politicians particularly fond of each other. 'What can we do?' versus 'We must do this!' DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner knows both men well, having accompanied the two leaders on several foreign trips. Reflecting on the different styles of the two politicians and their predecessor, she noted: "While Merkel always thought with the outcome in mind and Scholz was reluctant to even describe a political goal before he had paved the way for it, Merz clearly defines his goals." According to Küfner's analysis, this represents a significant political shift in itself. Germany promises Ukraine around €5 billion more in support To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Policy on Ukraine It took Scholz until the summer of 2022 to visit Ukraine, which had been invaded by Russia in the spring of that year. For a long time, Scholz remained secretive about whether he would supply weapons to the embattled country — though in the end he did. Merz, on the other hand, visited Ukraine within days of taking office, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, when they announced that there would soon be a ceasefire and peace talks. But this still hasn't come to pass, while President Donald Trump appears to have backed out of his earlier commitment to forge a lasting peace. Given the US president's unpredictability, this was not really a surprise, something Scholz would certainly have taken into account. "Following the strong performance with Macron, Tusk, and Starmer came this diplomatic embarrassment," says Berlin-based correspondent Küfner. "Merz still has to prove that this defeat can translate into strong leadership." Why is Germany toughening its tone on Israel now? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany and Israel The change in style in Germany's policy toward Israel is even more noticeable. After the Islamist militia Hamas attacked Israelin October 2023, Scholz's response was essentially to insist on Israel's right to defend itself. This remained his stance even as the Israeli army took increasingly brutal action against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The European Union, as well as the United States, Germany and several other countries classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. As an opposition politician at the time, Merz also showed strong support for Israel and even announced that, unlike Scholz, he would demonstrate that support by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the chancellery. That stance did not waver even after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last November for crimes against humanity. But soon after taking office, he made something of a U-turn: A few days ago, Merz said he no longer understood Israel's actions in the Gaza war, before adding that they could no longer be justified as a legitimate fight against Hamas terrorism. Never before has a chancellor spoken so bluntly about the actions of the Israeli government. Küfner says: "Merz's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is a historic step. He is not afraid to directly criticize the Israeli prime minister about alleged violations of international law. This is a new tone from Germany." With this, Merz begged a question that Scholz had successfully avoided: How far does the German reason of state, the commitment to Israel's security, actually extend? What this will mean in practical terms for German-Israeli relations remains to be seen. Even under Scholz, arms deliveries to Israel had been relatively limited, and Merz has not announced an end to these deliveries. Nor has he repeated his earlier invitation to Netanyahu. In practical terms, not much has really changed, but the tone is definitely different. This is likely to continue over the coming weeks. Germany will have to get used to the chancellor's new political style. Meanwhile, Scholz is now observing all this from his position as an ordinary member of the Bundestag. And he has not yet made any comments on his successor's policies. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.

Will Germany's new government keep the 'Deutschlandticket'?

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INTERVIEW: 'Don't let fear deter you from new life in Germany,' minister urges

Chancellor Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

Friedrich Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

Will Germany's new government keep the 'Deutschlandticket'?

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INTERVIEW: 'Don't let fear deter you from new life in Germany,' minister urges

Chancellor Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

Friedrich Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025

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