Hesse Premier Rhein calls to revive Merz's 'cityscape' migration debate

Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein argues the discussion sparked by Chancellor Friedrich Merz remains necessary.

Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein believes the discussion about changes to Germany's "cityscape" (Stadtbild)—triggered by remarks from Chancellor Friedrich Merz (both CDU)—should continue, particularly in light of recent electoral gains by the AfD.

Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, Rhein stated that the debate initiated by Merz was correct. However, he noted that it was "prematurely" declared that "one cannot discuss this." Rhein made clear: "Yes, we must discuss it, and in the end, we must also draw lessons from it."

Approximately one year ago, Merz remarked that while the federal government was correcting past failures in migration policy and making progress, "we naturally still have this problem in the cityscape." He later specified that the problems stem from migrants who lack permanent residency status, do not work, and do not adhere to the rules in Germany.

AfD Emerges as Winner in Three Federal States

Minister-President Rhein stated that the migration crisis had been addressed "in large strides" but was not yet resolved. "We naturally have a problem, for example, with immigration into the social welfare systems. This must be articulated and then addressed with a solution." He also acknowledged an issue with criminality among immigrants. "It makes no sense to hide these topics behind a firewall or to never discuss them again. They do not disappear because of that," Rhein said.

The AfD more than doubled its result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from 16.7% to 38.2%, making it the third federal state—after Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt—where the party emerged as the winner of a state election. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD previously achieved its highest-ever state election result with 43.8%, narrowly missing an absolute majority.

Union at 19% in INSA Poll – AfD at 29%

Nationally, the AfD remains unchanged at 29% in a recent INSA poll for Bild am Sonntag. The Union lost one percentage point compared to the previous week's survey and now stands at 19%. In a YouGov poll published in mid-September, the Union reached a historic low of 18%, while the AfD also stood at 29%.

When asked what he now expects from the Chancellor, Rhein replied: "We must regain interpretive sovereignty over the everyday concerns of ordinary people as the party of the center." He described the fuel price cap as a good response. "But it is paradoxical to pass a fuel price cap while simultaneously taking money out of people's pockets at the supermarket checkout." Rhein was alluding to planned increases in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sparkling wine.

This article is based on reporting by dpa.