Wire flash
Hesse Premier Rhein: Merz's 'cityscape' debate is correct
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) has called for a continuation of the 'cityscape' debate initiated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following recent electoral successes by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Rhein stated that the debate was 'correct' and that lessons must be drawn from it. He argued that the migration crisis is 'not yet solved,' citing problems with immigration into social welfare systems and 'criminality among immigrant people.' Rhein emphasized that such issues should not be hidden behind a 'firewall' and must be discussed openly, but 'without any terrible remigration fantasies.' The debate was originally sparked by Merz in October 2025 with comments about the perceived negative effects of migration on the 'cityscape,' which he later acknowledged he would have phrased differently.
Source report
Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU). Source: Michael Kappeler/dpa
Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) has called for a continuation of the "cityscape" debate initiated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following the recent electoral successes of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Rhein stated: "That brings us back to a topic – and that is the cityscape." He described the debate sparked by Chancellor Merz as "correct," adding: "We must discuss it, and in the end, we must also draw lessons from it."
Rhein emphasized that the migration crisis is "of course not yet resolved." He noted: "We clearly have a problem, for example with immigration into the social welfare systems." He also pointed to an issue with "criminality among immigrant populations."
"Without Remigration Fantasies"
Rhein argued: "It makes no sense to hide these topics behind a firewall or to never discuss them again. They do not disappear as a result." He stressed that the questions must be addressed openly, but "without any terrible remigration fantasies."
Merz had sparked a controversial debate in October 2025 with remarks about what he considered problematic effects of migration on the "cityscape." The Chancellor later stated in a television program that he "should have said earlier" what he specifically meant by the term and that he "would do it differently today."
AFP/fro
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
Hesse Premier Rhein Revives Merz's 'Cityscape' Migration Debate as AfD Surges