German Conservative Leader Sparks Outrage By Accusing Ukrainian Refugees Of "Social Tourism"

The leader of the CDU, Friedrich Merz, upon his arrival at the German Parliament, on September 21. FILIP SINGER (EFE)

The head of the opposition in Germany, the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz, has provoked a wave of outrage by accusing Ukrainian refugees of engaging in “social tourism” by benefiting from German social benefits and then returning to their country.

Ministers in the government of Olaf Scholz and prominent political leaders from different formations have criticized his statement, which was made public on Monday night in an interview with the

tabloid .

The reaction to his words, which use the same expression used by the extreme right during the 2015 refugee crisis, has caused Merz to apologize publicly on his social networks.

“We are currently seeing a kind of social tourism of these refugees.

From Ukraine to Germany, from Germany to Ukraine and again from Ukraine to Germany”, assured the successor of Angela Merkel at the head of the CDU.

Merz did not provide any data or sources to support his claims.

The conservative leader was talking about the fact that the Government of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals is not applying the rules of the asylum system to Ukrainian refugees, but rather provides them with direct access to social benefits from the moment they arrive on German territory.

According to his account, this has caused Ukrainians to travel to Germany only to collect social benefits and then return to their country.

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Last minute of the war in Ukraine

Merz's remarks come at a time when Germans are increasingly concerned about rising energy prices and the impact of the war in Ukraine on their economy.

The country is preparing for a complicated winter in which for the first time the Russian gas with which half of the country's heating systems work does not flow.

It is estimated that gas bills can double or triple.

On Tuesday morning, Merz wrote on Twitter that he regrets his choice of words.

“Social tourism”, he assures her, is an “inaccurate description of a problem that can be observed in isolated cases”.

According to his explanation, his criticism was directed at the lack of registration and control of the refugees by the Scholz government.

"Far from my intention was to criticize the refugees from Ukraine, who face a difficult fate."

"If my choice of words is perceived as offensive, I apologize in every way," she concludes.

Zu meinen Äußerungen von gestern über die Flüchtlinge aus der Ukraine gibt es viel Kritik.

Ich bedaure die Verwendung des Wortes „Sozialtourismus“.

Das war eine unzutreffende Beschreibung eines in Einzelfällen zu beobachtenden Problems.

(1/3) (FM)

– Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) September 27, 2022

Merz replaced the previous leader of the CDU after the resounding electoral defeat in the general elections last September.

The economist was for years Merkel's great internal rival, whom he criticized for her social policies.

The former chancellor managed to push him aside and he left politics and focused on his career in the world of finance for a while.

Since his return to the political arena, in 2018, he has defended a return to "the essences" of the party.

His victory at the CDU congress was interpreted as a shift to the right of the formation.

The Minister of the Interior, the Social Democrat Nancy Faeser, called it "regrettable" that the conservative leader is "agitating against Ukrainian children and women who are fleeing bombs and Putin's attacks."

On her Twitter account, the head of internal security in Germany accuses the conservative of using the same expression as the extreme right, something that is "unworthy of any democrat."

Marco Buschman, Minister of Justice and member of the Liberal Party, also reacted to Merz's words.

“That people travel between Germany and Ukraine, sometimes at risk to their lives, is not social tourism.

Maybe it's just concern for loved ones, husband or father serving in the Army?” he also said on Twitter.

“How does it really fit in with the vaunted solidarity of the Union [the CDU alliance with its Bavarian partner CSU] with Ukraine that Friedrich Merz talks about social tourism in the context of people fleeing this terrible war of aggression?” , asked the president of Los Verdes, Ricarda Lang, on her Twitter account.

In the interview with

Merz also said that if the federal government treats all conscientious objectors to military mobilization in Russia the same, the problems will be even greater.

His party is "radically" opposed, he said.

The Interior Minister has announced in the

that Russian defectors threatened with severe repression in her country will receive international protection in Germany.

The country is debating the creation of a new emergency procedure to welcome people fleeing the Moscow call-up.

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