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"Social tourism" of Ukrainian refugees? Huge Zoff about Merz – now the CDU boss is rowing back

2022-09-27T11:41:43.831Z


"Social tourism" of Ukrainian refugees? Huge Zoff about Merz – now the CDU boss is rowing back Created: 09/27/2022, 13:33 By: Stephanie Munk In an interview, CDU leader Merz spoke of "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees to Germany. The statement met with massive criticism. Berlin - CDU leader Friedrich Merz has complained of "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees to Germany - and that is now


"Social tourism" of Ukrainian refugees?

Huge Zoff about Merz – now the CDU boss is rowing back

Created: 09/27/2022, 13:33

By: Stephanie Munk

In an interview, CDU leader Merz spoke of "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees to Germany.

The statement met with massive criticism.

Berlin - CDU leader Friedrich Merz has complained of "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees to Germany - and that is now making waves: Politicians from other parties criticize his statements about the Ukraine war as "shabby" and irresponsible.

After the massive criticism, the Union politician apologized for the statement.

Literally, Merz said on Monday evening (September 26) in an interview with Bild TV: "We are now experiencing social tourism from these refugees: to Germany, back to Ukraine, to Germany, back to Ukraine." For this he made false incentives from the traffic lights -Government responsible: Initially, refugees from Ukraine were entitled to care under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

They have received basic security since June - i.e. the same benefits as, for example, Hartz IV recipients.

Merz now claimed that “a larger number of the refugees are now using this system.”

He accused the federal government of triggering “social tensions” in Germany with its refugee and immigration policy.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz made a statement about Ukrainian refugees explosive.

© Malte Ossowski/Sven Simon/Imago

“Social Tourism” by Ukraine Refugees?

Faeser accuses Merz of "mood making".

Politicians in the traffic light coalition reacted angrily to Friedrich Merz's statements.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), for example, accused him on Twitter of "slandering on the backs of Ukrainian women and children who fled from Putin's bombs and tanks".

That's "shabby".

"Social tourism" was the "nonsense word of the year" in 2013 and was "unworthy of every democrat in 2022 as well".

“Social Tourism” by Ukraine Refugees?

Greens accuse Merz of profiling at the expense of others

The Green Party leader Ricarda Lang was also outraged on Twitter by Merz's "social tourism" statement: The fact that the parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU talks about people who "flee from the terrible war of aggression" does not fit "the much-vaunted solidarity of the Union with Ukraine.”

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Fraction leader Britta Haßelmann was similarly annoyed: “Wanting to distinguish yourself by degrading other people is an instrument that right-wing populists regularly use.

Friedrich Merz knows that too.

Any means of self-promotion seems right to him.”

“Social Tourism” by Ukraine Refugees?

Melnyk speaks of “cheap populism”

There is also protest from the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk: "Where does this nonsense about alleged social tourism by Ukrainian war refugees come from?" Melnyk wrote on Twitter to Merz.

“You have the right to visit your homeland at any time.

Where does this cheap populism come from?”

Michael Roth (SPD), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused Merz of “zero sense of responsibility and empathy” on Twitter.

The "chatter about social tourism" endangers the social cohesion that has prevailed in the reception of refugees from Ukraine.

The Greens member of the Bundestag, Jürgen Trittin, sharply criticized Merz in the RTL/ntv morning show "Frühstart": With his choice of words, Merz provided keywords for the "right-wing mob".

According to Trittin, anyone fleeing a war is not a social tourist.

Traffic light coalition: The Scholz cabinet at a glance

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Friedrich Merz also sees problems with deserters from Russia

In his own words, Merz also expects major problems with deserters from Russia “if the Federal Government did what the Federal Minister of the Interior suggested, namely to give practically all conscientious objectors to military service in Russia access to the Federal Republic of Germany”.

The Union is “strictly opposed”.

Faeser had previously said that deserters who were threatened with severe repression usually received international protection in Germany: "Anyone who courageously opposes the regime of President Vladimir Putin and therefore puts themselves in great danger can apply for asylum in Germany because of political persecution." The granting of asylum however, is a case-by-case decision.

There is always a security check.

Merz statement about "social tourism" by Ukrainian refugees - CDU boss apologizes on Twitter

CDU leader Merz has now responded to the outcry about his statement and has now apologized publicly.

"I regret the use of the word 'social tourism'," wrote Merz on Twitter.

"That was an inaccurate description of a problem that could be observed in individual cases," said the Union politician.

"My point was only the lack of registration of the refugees," Merz continued, adding: "It was and is far from my intention to criticize the refugees from Ukraine, who are confronted with a hard fate." The Union faction leader emphasized: " If my choice of words is perceived as hurtful, then I apologize in all formalities."

(smu/dpa)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-09-27

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