Chancellor Merz celebrates 65 years of Turkish labor migrants shaping modern Germany
Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Turkish guest workers for building Germany’s post-war economy at a Berlin ceremony marking 65 years since the 1961 recruitment pact.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a Berlin ceremony marking 65 years of the German-Turkish guest-worker treaty to commend the generations of Turkish laborers who contributed to Germany’s post-war industrial boom and ongoing cultural vitality. He noted that the 1961 agreement brought hundreds of thousands of Turkish workers, many of whom settled permanently, and pointed to prominent descendants like Ilkay Gündoğan, Fatih Akın, Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Aras Ören and Deniz Utlu as exemplars of success.
Merz stressed that integration remains a shared responsibility, urging respect for democratic values and warning that xenophobic language, such as the “remigration” slogan used by the AfD, threatens the multicultural society built over six decades. He recalled violent racist incidents in Mölln, Solingen and Hanau, including murders by the NSU. Integration Commissioner Natalie Pawlik echoed concerns about growing discrimination, while Turkish Ambassador Gökhan Turan highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
Why it matters
It underscores the economic and cultural impact of Turkish migrants in Germany and warns of rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
How this story developed
- Sep 24 Berlin election fuels fierce debate over housing expropriation and coalition prospects
- Oct 6 The party moved from campaign rhetoric to a detailed plan to expropriate apartments from eight major landlords.
- Oct 14 In his government address, Merz insisted that no euro sent to Ukraine reduces spending on Germany’s social programs or schools. He highlighted an increasing willingness by Russia to escalate against Ukraine, neighboring Eastern European states, and even Germany itself. The chancellor also warned that a widening fairness gap between generations will worsen without reform. He faced opposition from AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla, who argued that endless support for Ukraine is unaffordable for German taxpayers. The speech preceded the swearing-in of new labour minister Alexander Schweitzer and set the stage for an upcoming EU summit focused on the budget, economic security, and the Ukraine war.
- Oct 16 Johannes Winkel secured another term as chairman of the Junge Union, the youth wing of the CDU/CSU, and called for confidence despite recent electoral setbacks.
- Oct 18 The parties have moved from exploratory talks to formal coalition negotiations.
- Oct 18 AfD and BSW publicly called for stopping arms aid to Ukraine in Saxony‑Anhalt.
- Oct 19 Merz warned that deeper coalition concessions could jeopardise the CDU’s electoral prospects.
- Oct 20 SPD and Greens approve entering coalition talks with Linke.
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