(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) — Germany has been witnessing a wide-ranging public debate sparked by remarks made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding a so-called “problem in the cityscape” (“Stadtbild”). The controversy began after a press conference in Potsdam, where Merz linked perceived urban decline and public insecurity to migration. He asserted that despite a significant reduction in refugee numbers, a persistent issue remained visible in the appearance and atmosphere of German cities. His comments were met with immediate criticism from across the political spectrum.
Within Merz’s own party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), initial reactions were divided. While some party members, such as Dennis Radtke, leader of the CDU’s social wing, and Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner, expressed concern about the tone and implications of Merz’s statements, others offered strong support. Union parliamentary leader Jens Spahn, Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, and Heiko Teggatz, deputy chair of the German Police Union (DPolG), defended the Chancellor’s remarks. They argued that Merz had merely articulated what many citizens observed daily—namely, rising crime, drug trafficking, and public disorder in urban areas, which they attributed to irregular migration. CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt echoed this sentiment, asserting that illegal migration had visibly altered the character of German cities and that political correctness should not inhibit open discussion.
According to an article of the ZDF network dating from Friday, the survey institute Politbarometer found that 63 percent of respondents believed Merz’s clarified statement to be correct, with markedly higher approval among older age-groups (70 percent among 35-59-year-olds, 66 percent for 60 and older) as compared to only 42 percent among 18-34-year-olds. Merz’s claim thus received age-segmented support. Approximately one-third of the respondents mentioned that they felt somewhat insecure in public places.
Merz clarifies: immigration is necessary
In response to the debates, Merz issued several clarifications. He emphasized that both Germany and the European Union would continue to depend on immigration, particularly to sustain labor markets and address demographic challenges. However, he maintained that problems arose specifically from migrants who lacked legal status, were unemployed, and failed to comply with national laws. According to Merz, such individuals were disproportionately shaping the public image of certain urban areas, contributing to a sense of insecurity. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius later clarified that Merz had made his initial comments in his role as CDU party leader rather than as Chancellor, though this distinction did little to mitigate public concern.
Political escalation
The controversy escalated rapidly in political spheres. Leaders from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Left Party accused Merz of employing racially coded language and exacerbating social divisions. SPD figures such as Juso leader Philipp Türmer and Bundestag member Ralf Stegner argued that Merz’s rhetoric undermined social cohesion and played into the hands of far-right populists. Green parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge described the remarks as discriminatory and called for a formal apology. Left Party leader Heidi Reichinnek went further, characterizing the statements as dehumanizing and indicative of a dangerous political trajectory. SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf warned against reducing complex urban challenges to simplistic narratives about migration, pointing instead to structural issues such as housing shortages, poverty, and gender-based harassment. In an effort to redirect the debate, some SPD leaders proposed a parliamentary initiative to redefine the concept of “cityscape” in constructive, inclusive, and policy-oriented terms.
Civil society responded with swift and vocal opposition. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets under slogans such as “Wir sind das Stadtbild” (“We are the cityscape”), with feminist organizations condemning Merz for scapegoating individuals with migration backgrounds. A petition demanding a retraction of the remarks and denouncing their racial undertones garnered over 120,000 signatures within just 24 hours, reflecting the depth of public discontent. Academic and media commentators also weighed in. Scholars interpreted the use of “Stadtbild” as a form of language that subtly invokes racialized fears while maintaining plausible deniability. Sociologist Nina Perkowski argued that such rhetoric fosters a collective sense of unease and legitimizes coercive state measures. She warned that this discursive framing could normalize xenophobic attitudes.
More investment advocated
The debate soon expanded beyond the Chancellor’s remarks to encompass broader questions of urban policy and social integration. The German Association of Cities and Municipalities urged policymakers to focus on the structural challenges facing local governments. Representatives such as Chief Executive Gerd Landsberg and President Uwe Spiegler emphasized that improving the “cityscape” required targeted investments in public infrastructure, social services, and integration programs. They highlighted the financial constraints faced by municipalities, the need for increased police and regulatory presence, and the importance of addressing social inequality. Spiegler cited neglected urban spaces such as underpasses as examples of areas requiring redevelopment to enhance public safety and quality of life.
Spahn demands concrete measures
Despite the controversy, Merz continued to receive backing from key figures within the Union. Parliamentary manager Steffen Bilger (CDU) echoed this view, warning that intra-governmental dissent could erode public trust in political leadership.
In a televised interview, Spahn defended Merz, asserting that the Chancellor had merely articulated what most Germans believed. Spahn contended that the recent wave of left-wing outrage ignored social realities. He maintained that the Chancellor’s remarks were not directed against skin color or the majority of citizens with migration backgrounds who contributed constructively to Germany’s future, but rather referred to visible urban decay and areas marked by crime and insecurity — such as railway stations and districts where Jews, women, and homosexuals reportedly felt unsafe.
Spahn also criticized SPD deputy parliamentary leader Wiebke Esdar for joining protests against the Chancellor, arguing that “opposition within government” was politically untenable and that most SPD voters understood and shared Merz’s assessment. He called on the governing coalition to adopt concrete measures, citing state-level proposals to strengthen law enforcement, implement stricter immigration controls and deportations, and enhance public security through tools such as video surveillance and artificial intelligence—measures intended, he said, to ensure that all residents, regardless of origin, felt safe in public spaces.
Police Union for tighter security
Meanwhile, the German Police Union reiterated its call for enhanced security measures, particularly at major transportation hubs such as railway stations. Union leaders contended that increased police presence and expanded powers, including the ability to conduct suspicionless checks, would not only improve public safety but also contribute to a more orderly and aesthetically pleasing urban environment.
