Germany's Merz calls for repatriation of Syrians as far-right surges

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a government declaration on the upcoming European Council meeting with focus on EU's support for Ukraine, developments in Middle East, European defense and security, EU competitiveness, and migration during a plenum session of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany October 16, 2025. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) -Syrians no longer have grounds for asylum in Germany now the civil war in their country is over, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, as his conservatives seek to fend off a surging far-right ahead of a slew of state elections next year.

Germany was the EU country that took in the largest number of refugees from the 14-year-long Syrian civil war due to former Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy, with around one million Syrians living in the country today.