SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf has stated in the cityscape debate that issues in German inner cities are primarily due to men, regardless of their origin. He rejected blaming migration and criticized statements by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The debate has sparked nationwide protests.
The debate over Germany's cityscape has intensified following statements by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Last week, in the context of migration policy, Merz said: 'We still have this problem in the cityscape, of course.' He referred to migrants without residence rights and employment who do not follow German rules. On Wednesday, Merz clarified that anyone with daughters would receive a 'pretty clear and distinct answer' regarding the meaning of his remarks.
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf intervened, stating: 'This feeling of insecurity is primarily about men in my view, regardless of origin.' He described reducing all political problems to migration as 'wrong and dangerous.' Klüssendorf spoke to the Funke Media Group newspapers.
The Left Party's interior expert Clara Bünger expressed similar views. She accused Merz of doing nothing for women's safety except using them to instrumentalize 'racist policy.' 'Violence against women has no origin problem, but a men problem,' Bünger told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. She demanded reliable federal funding for women's shelters and specialist counseling centers.
Merz's statements elicited mixed reactions: agreement and criticism. Nationwide protests occurred in recent days. Demonstrations are planned for the weekend in cities including Hamburg, Magdeburg, and Nuremberg. In Hamburg, around 5,000 participants are expected on Saturday for the event 'We Are the Cityscape.'