Bild: Merkel publicly condemns Merz over migrant remarks

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised the statements of current Chancellor Friedrich Merz about migrants, sending him a “clear signal.”

On October 27 in Bonn, during a public appearance where she read excerpts from her autobiography Freedom, Merkel did not directly address current political issues but indirectly criticised Merz’s tone and style, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bild.

She recalled the year 2015, when nearly one million refugees arrived in Germany, and repeated her famous words: “We can do it.”

Addressing the audience in Bonn, she urged that dehumanising terms such as refugee influx should be avoided in public discourse and emphasised the importance of recognising each person’s individuality.

She added that the migration policy should be pursued honestly and with moderation in tone.

Merkel first made the statement in late August of that year during the migration crisis, and it went on to become the unofficial slogan of Germany’s new “culture of hospitality.”

In the months since assuming office, Merz has pursued a marked shift in Germany’s migration policy, emphasising the need to rectify what he describes as past “mistakes” and tackling “irregular migration” head-on. 

His earlier “Five-Point Plan” introduced in January 2025, called for stronger border controls, expedited deportations and national legislation to replace certain EU asylum rules. 

Despite these measures, he acknowledged in mid-October that visible social and urban challenges remain — ultimately saying that “the problem is still visible in the appearance of cities.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada