BERLIN: In a significant shift in immigration policy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Syrians no longer have grounds for asylum in Germany now that the civil war in their country has concluded.

This announcement comes as Merz's conservatives aim to counter a surging far-right movement before a series of state elections scheduled for next year.

Germany, under former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s leadership, welcomed approximately one million Syrian refugees during the 14-year-long Syrian civil war, making it the European Union country that took in the largest number of refugees.

However, Merz and several members of his coalition cabinet argue that the situation has changed following the fall of Bashar Assad's government last December and the official end of the war.

Despite Syria still being in a deep humanitarian crisis, Merz claims that the grounds for asylum no longer exist.

Merz emphasized that many Syrians will voluntarily return to rebuild their country, as rebuilding without them would be impossible.

He also stated that those Syrians in Germany who refuse to return may face deportation in the near future.

This stance is partly a response to the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has seen a surge in popularity and now leads in opinion polls ahead of the upcoming state elections.

The AfD's anti-migrant platform and assertion that Islam is incompatible with German society have gained traction among some Germans, particularly concerning migration, which has consistently topped recent polls as the public’s top concern.

The United Nations has cautioned against large-scale repatriations to Syria, pointing out that approximately 70% of the population still relies on humanitarian aid.

This sentiment was echoed by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a recent trip to Syria.

In response, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized what she termed as 'a slap in the face to the victims of Islamist violence,' referencing an incident where a 22-year-old Syrian was arrested in Berlin for allegedly preparing a ‘jihadi’ attack.

Germany has been considering deporting Syrians with criminal records for several months and has invited Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to discuss repatriation policies.

The government is now exploring the possibility of broader repatriations, preferably on a voluntary basis.

Chancellery chief Thorsten Frei stated that young Sunni Muslim men are no longer at risk or destitution in Syria and suggested that only those facing such conditions would require lasting assistance from Germany.

The policy echoes the voluntary repatriation program implemented for Bosnians in the late 1990s, following the end of the Bosnian War.

However, unlike Bosnia, which had a clearer peace architecture with international monitoring, Syria lacks this framework, and Germany is likely to face legal challenges if it attempts forced returns.

Only around 1,000 Syrians returned to Syria with German federal assistance in the first half of this year, while hundreds of thousands of Syrians in Germany remain on temporary residence permits.