Germany’s Merz Says It’s Time for Syrian Refugees to Return Home. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on many of the roughly one million Syrians living in Germany to return home, declaring that “the civil war in Syria is over.” Under pressure from the far-right AfD party, Merz is taking a tougher stance on migration, pledging to work with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to begin repatriations. Merz said there are “no longer any grounds for asylum,” arguing that Syrians in Germany should help rebuild their war-torn country. His remarks mark a sharp shift from the asylum policies of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose 2015 refugee response made Germany a top destination for those fleeing conflict. Merz blames Merkel’s migration policies for fueling support for the AfD, which now rivals his conservative bloc in national polls. Human rights groups have condemned the government’s recent talks with Syria and Afghanistan over deportations, warning returnees could face persecution. Merz invited Syrian President al-Sharaa — a former rebel leader — to Berlin to discuss sending back Syrians convicted of crimes. Despite the rhetoric, Merz’s government is currently focusing on voluntary returns, as many Syrians in Germany have integrated, with nearly 300,000 working and 83,000 now citizens. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]