German Chancellor Claims Syrian President Wants 80% of Refugees to Return

BERLIN, March 31, 2026 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Scharaa wants 80% of Syrian refugees in Germany to return home within three years, a claim later denied by al-Scharaa. Chancellor Merz attributed the repatriation proposal to al-Scharaa during discussions about Syria’s reconstruction efforts. "In der längeren Perspektive der nächsten drei Jahre, das sind auch, ist der Wunsch von Präsident Scharaa gewesen, sollen rund 80 Prozent der in Deutschland jetzt sich aufhaltenden Syrerinnen und Syrer zurück in ihr Heimatland kehren," Merz said in a statement.

Syrian President al-Scharaa, however, rejected the claim, denying he had made such a request. Over 900,000 Syrian refugees currently reside in Germany, according to official statistics.

The discrepancy raises questions about potential miscommunication between the two leaders amid ongoing debates about refugee integration and return policies. No further details were provided about the context of Merz’s remarks or al-Scharaa’s denial. Germany has hosted one of the largest Syrian refugee populations since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.