German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that citizens from Syria will no longer be eligible to apply for asylum in Germany, arguing that the country’s civil war has come to an end.

The move comes as conservatives attempt to counter the rise of the far-right ahead of next year’s state elections. 

For over a decade, Germany has been the main European destination for Syrian refugees, hosting nearly one million people under former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy.

However, Merz claimed that “the situation changed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December and the end of the conflict,” despite continued warnings from humanitarian organizations about the dire conditions in Syria. 

“There are no longer grounds to seek asylum in Germany, and we can therefore begin repatriations,” Merz stated on Monday, adding that he hopes many immigrants will “return voluntarily to help rebuild their country.” He also warned that those who refuse could face deportation “in the near future.” 

The rise of the right wing in Germany

Announcement comes as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party overtakes Merz’s conservatives in polls ahead of five key state elections. The AfD has campaigned on an anti-immigration platform and claims that Islam is “incompatible with German society.” 

Migration has consistently topped public concern in Germany, and some conservative strategists argue that a tougher asylum stance is necessary to curb AfD’s growth.

Others within the ruling coalition believe that adopting the far-right’s rhetoric would only strengthen it politically. 

United Nations, however, has warned that conditions in Syria remain unsafe for large-scale returns, noting that about 70% of the population still depends on humanitarian aid.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed that view after a recent visit to Damascus, stressing that “forced returns would violate international law and endanger lives.”