German opposition leader under fire for accusing Ukrainian refugees of ‘welfare tourism’

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s opposition leader Friedrich Merz came under heavy criticism on Tuesday after accusing Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of the country's social welfare system by collecting benefits and then returning to Ukraine.

"What we're seeing is welfare tourism on the part of these refugees: to Germany, back to Ukraine, to Germany, back to Ukraine," Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democrats, told Bild TV in an interview.

Ukrainian refugees were initially supported under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, but since June they are entitled to an increased amount of social assistance as well as assistance from employment centers.

The leader of the center-right party was sharply criticized for his remarks, especially by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and its coalition partners.

The SPD’s parliamentary group accused Merz of adopting the rhetoric of the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD.

"He deliberately wants to unleash a political culture war and shift the discourse to the right,” SPD’s chief whip said in a statement.

Green Party’s co-chair Ricarda Lang also slammed the opposition leader, saying the Christian Democrats long called for more solidarity with Ukraine, but now their leader is speaking of 'welfare tourism,’ while referring to people fleeing a terrible war.

The liberal Free Democrats said Merz was endangering public support for Ukraine through such rhetoric.

"People from Ukraine come to us because they are fleeing Putin's brutal war. Many of them have lost everything and fear for their loved ones,” the party's parliamentary group leader, Christian Durr, said in a statement.

Merz later apologized for his choice of words, tweeting: "If my choice of words is perceived as hurtful, then I formally apologize."

He said he regretted using the word "welfare tourism," and that his choice of words had been an inaccurate description of a problem that can be observed in individual cases.

Germany is bracing for a tough winter amid skyrocketing gas prices and growing public frustration over the handling of the looming energy crisis. Thousands of people rallied in several eastern states on Monday against the government’s energy policy and sanctions on Russia.