In a surprising turn of events, Germany’s center-right opposition parties are hardening their stance on Ukrainian refugees, with calls to send them back to Ukraine if they fail to find employment. The Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary leader, Alexander Dobrindt, is advocating for a policy that would require refugees to either work in Germany or return to safe areas in Ukraine.
Despite the argument being debunked by migration researchers, the push to restrict benefits for Ukrainian refugees is gaining traction among opposition parties, including the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). The CDU’s Michael Stübgen believes that supporting Ukrainians financially contradicts efforts to help Ukraine, while the FDP’s Bijan Djir-Sarai argues for stricter measures to encourage Ukrainians to enter the labor market.
However, renowned economist Marcel Fratzscher criticizes these proposals as “naked populism,” emphasizing that cutting benefits will not benefit anyone. As the political debate intensifies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green Party, oppose restricting support for Ukrainian refugees.
While the government reiterates its commitment to aiding Ukrainian refugees, concerns about labor market integration and the economic impact of current policies persist. As the debate unfolds, the fate of over a million Ukrainian refugees in Germany hangs in the balance, highlighting the complex challenges of balancing humanitarian aid with economic considerations.