Criticism of Ukraine refugees
Merz apologizes for “social tourism” accusation
The CDU federal chairman Friedrich Merz at a press conference in the Reichstag building. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The CDU leader asserts that he has no intention of criticizing refugees from the Ukraine, who are confronted with a “hard fate”. The SPD does not believe Merz – and sees parallels with the AfD.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz has apologized for his choice of words about “social tourism” by Ukraine refugees. “If my choice of words is perceived as hurtful, then I apologize in all forms,” tweeted Merz.
There was a lot of criticism for his statements about the refugees from Ukraine, explained Merz and added: “I regret the use of the word “social tourism”. That was an inaccurate description of a problem that could be observed in individual cases.”
Merz wrote that his comment “only applied to the lack of registration of the refugees. It was and is far from my intention to criticize the refugees from Ukraine, who are confronted with a hard fate.”
Controversial appearance on Bild TV
Merz told Bild TV on Monday evening: “We are now experiencing social tourism from these refugees: to Germany, back to Ukraine, to Germany, back to Ukraine.”
The background, according to Merz: Initially, Ukraine refugees were entitled to care under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act – since June they have received basic security, i.e. the same benefits as Hartz IV recipients, and are therefore better off.
SPD: “So far we only know that from the AfD”
However, the SPD does not accept the apology from the CDU leader. “He deliberately wants to start a political culture war and shift the discourse to the right with ever new border shifts,” said parliamentary director Katja Mast of the German Press Agency. “So far we only know that from the AfD.”
The fact that Merz then “half-heartedly” distanced himself from his statements was “no more than the usual scam”.
FPD criticizes Merz’s statements as “absolutely out of place”
The leader of the Liberal parliamentary group, Christian Dürr, describes Merz’s statements about “social tourism” as “absolutely out of place”. Dürr told the German Press Agency: “People from Ukraine come to us because they are fleeing Putin’s brutal war. Many of them have lost everything and fear for their relatives.”
And further: “I have met refugee women and children, some of whom are driving back to Ukraine at risk of their lives to see their husbands or fathers again. I cannot understand why the chairman of the Christian Democrats is accusing these people of social tourism. Mr. Merz endangers them with such Narratives of public support for Ukraine.”
CDU tries to limit damage
Merz’s party friends are now also trying to limit the damage. The parliamentary director of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei (CDU), said: Merz used a “certainly very pointed formulation” to “point out a problem that may exist here”.
He admitted “that the term can be misunderstood”. According to the CDU politician, he had no corresponding figures that could conclusively assess the situation.
Backing for Merz, on the other hand, comes from the CSU. “He corrected it, and that’s the end of it,” said regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt. “Sometimes a sentence can be wrong. You don’t have to put that on the gold scales.” The CDU boss apologized publicly and in all forms.
The “non-word” jury of some linguists chose the word “social tourism” as the non-word of the year in 2013. It “discriminates against people who are looking for a better future in Germany out of sheer need, and obscures their basic right to do so,” the statement said at the time.