Germany politics
fromThe Local Germany
5 days agoGermany's Merz pushes return of Syrians as he hosts leader Sharaa
Chancellor Merz and President Sharaa aim for 80% of Syrians in Germany to return home over the next three years.
Since ousting Syria's longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Sharaa has made frequent overseas trips as the former Islamist rebel chief undergoes a rapid reinvention. He has made official visits to the United States and France, and a series of international sanctions on Syria have been lifted. The focus of next week's visit for the German government will be on stepping up repatriations of Syrians, a priority for Merz's conservative-led coalition since Assad was toppled.