German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reiterated his stance on migration, emphasizing that a significant number of Germans and Europeans feel uneasy about their safety in public areas.

Merz has stood firm against critiques from various political figures in Germany regarding his administration’s stringent policies on illegal immigration.

“The issue persists in our urban landscapes, and this is why the federal interior minister is actively involved in organizing and executing extensive deportations,” Merz stated during a recent visit to Potsdam.

His comments ignited a wave of criticism, with some accusing him of harboring racist sentiments. However, Merz dismissed these allegations while attending a Western Balkans summit in London, asserting that migrants are “an essential component of our labor market,” as reported by Germany’s DW News.

The statement prompted backlash, some accusing the German leader of being racist. He rejected the criticism while on the sidelines of a summit on the Western Balkans in London, saying migrants were “an indispensable part of our labor market,” German-based DW News reported.

He also claimed that many people in Germany and across Europe are nonetheless “afraid to move around in public spaces” because of migrants “who do not have permanent residence status, do not work and do not abide by our rules,” the outlet reported.

Numerous demonstrators gather for a demonstration in Berlin Oct. 19, 2025, with the slogan “Brandmauer hoch!” (“We are the cityscape”), referring to a statement made by Chancellor Merz in reference to migration policy.   (Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty Images)

“I don’t know whether you have children. If you do, and there are daughters among them, ask your daughters what I might have meant. I suspect you’ll get a pretty clear and unambiguous answer. There’s nothing I need to retract,” he said when asked if he would withdraw his earlier remarks.

Some have signed a petition disputing Merz’s comments. The signees include actor Marie Nasemann and environmental activist Luisa Neubauer.

“There are approximately 40 million daughters in this country. We have a genuine interest in ensuring that our safety is taken seriously,” Neubauer wrote on Instagram. “What we are not interested in is being misused as a pretext or justification for statements that were ultimately discriminatory, racist and deeply hurtful.”