From a Culture of Welcome to the Rise of the Alternative Party: How Refugees Reshaped German Politics
Ten years ago, Germany opened its borders to more than a million refugees fleeing wars and poverty. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel's phrase "We can do this" became a symbol of the culture of welcome (Willkommenskultur), and a promise of safety and hope for those fleeing countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. That decision changed politics and society in Germany, and its legacy remains a topic of debate to this day.
One of the most prominent faces at that moment was Anas Mdamani, the Syrian refugee who arrived in Berlin at the age of seventeen in 2015. Just a few days after his arrival, he took a 'selfie' with Merkel that spread around the world, making him a symbol of the refugee wave. Today, Anas holds a German passport and works in the field of information technology, and he shares content with his followers on TikTok. However, he admits that he would never repeat the same journey, recalling its dangers and the number of people who lost their lives along the way.
Between 2015 and 2016 alone, Germany received over a million asylum applications, the majority of which were from Syrians, Afghans, and Iraqis. In total, 2.6 million people applied for asylum in Germany between 2015 and 2024. The numbers declined for a while, but rose again after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With more than a third of asylum applications in the European Union, Germany remained the top destination for refugees for a whole decade.
But this influx also sparked angry political reactions. Events like the New Year's Eve attacks in Cologne in 2015 significantly changed public opinion, giving the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) a major boost, making it the largest opposition party today. Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who criticized Merkel's approach, tightened border controls and proposed stricter immigration policies, although some decisions were overturned by the courts. Analysts say his steps are more symbolic than effective, as asylum laws are determined at the EU level.
Public attitudes have become more rigid. In 2015, only 38% of Germans believed that fewer refugees should be accepted, while that percentage rose to 68% by 2025. Anas Madmani himself feels the change in the general mood, confirming that refugees are no longer welcomed as they were when he first arrived. Regarding his future, he says that if hostility continues to rise, he may look for another homeland where he feels a sense of belonging — indicating that Germany's major experience with refugees continues to reshape the lives of individuals and the country as a whole.