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Alabali-Radovan counters Merz: Cityscape debate continues to polarize!
Friedrich Merz's migration policy and the reactions of Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan: Insight into critical debates in MV.
Alabali-Radovan counters Merz: Cityscape debate continues to polarize!
A fascinating exchange of blows has broken out in the political arena in Germany, more precisely in the context of the new federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz, who came into office on May 7, 2023 and reshuffled his cabinet, paid no attention to migration policy. The focus is particularly on Reem Alabali-Radovan, the new development minister and former integration officer of the failed traffic light coalition. Her influence is now becoming increasingly visible in the heated debate about the cityscape and the role of migration, especially after her critical statements on Instagram towards Merz. In this way she speaks out clearly against the division in society that he observes.
The migration issue had already caused a lot of controversy during the election campaign. Merz announced that he had taken a tougher course in migration policy, including a 60 percent reduction in the number of migrants in August 2025 compared to the previous year, and the goal of increasing deportations. Accordingly, he outlined that there is a problem in the cityscape that is exacerbated by people without permanent residency status and those who do not follow the rules. Alabali-Radovan, who previously campaigned for migrants in need of help, countered that such voices do not contribute to strengthening society.
The conflict over the cityscape
In the context of migration policy, Merz uses rhetoric that is not well received everywhere. The integration officer Natalie Pawlik warned against divisive language and emphasized the importance of integration. In an open letter, the Greens criticized Merz's comments as racist and discriminatory. They accuse him of questioning his Germanness and belonging based on his external appearance.
The “Handbook Germany” portal, in which Alabali-Radovan invested, became the central tool to support migrants affected by deportation. It offers important tips in nine languages, including Arabic and Turkish, and shows how to outsmart the authorities: from not being able to find children at deportation dates to applying for asylum in churches. Alabali-Radovan invested around 777,000 euros in 2022 and around 300,000 euros in 2023 in this platform, which is operated by the “New German Media Makers” network.
Support and protest
The reactions to Merz’s initiatives are mixed. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stands behind him and argues that the changes in the cityscape are caused by illegal migration. But there are also critical voices not only from the CDU who are calling for a softer course in migration policy. The topic is controversial internally, and the debates highlight the challenges and contradictions within the new federal government.
In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the conflict between Merz and Alabali-Radovan will develop. Their differences could not only influence the political future of the coalition, but also the way migration will be debated and addressed in Germany in the future. Well, it's still exciting!