Berlin, November 20, 2025 – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz encountered a stark public rebuke on Wednesday evening during an event celebrating integration and social cohesion, as approximately 30 young attendees, many of them scholarship recipients with migrant backgrounds, abruptly walked out in silent protest against his recent migration comments. The incident at the annual Talisman Prize ceremony, organized by the Deutschlandstiftung Integration, underscored the lingering tensions from Merz's controversial October remarks, which have ignited accusations of racism and fueled nationwide debates on immigration policy.
The walkout occurred moments after Merz, a prominent figure in the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took the stage at the Berlin venue. Videos circulating widely on social media showed the protesters—predominantly young men and women—rising from their seats in the front rows, turning their backs to the chancellor, and exiting the hall without uttering a word. Front-row dignitaries, including foundation representatives and fellow awardees, appeared visibly stunned as the group departed. One protester was seen holding a sticker reading "Wir sind das Stadtbild" ("We are the cityscape"), a direct rebuttal to Merz’s phrasing that has become a rallying slogan for his critics.
The Talisman Prize, awarded annually since 2010, honors individuals and initiatives that advance democratic values, social inclusion, and successful migrant integration stories. This year’s recipients included athletes and sports personalities who promote community cohesion and fight discrimination. As the foundation’s patron, Merz had been invited to deliver a keynote address on Germany’s development as an immigration country and the need for sustainable, managed migration. In his speech, delivered to a noticeably subdued audience after the disruption, Merz reiterated that “Germany is an immigration country” and that the nation’s history “would not have been written better, but worse” without migrants. He emphasized the importance of steering migration effectively, but the earlier walkout dominated the evening’s narrative.
The protest was a direct response to remarks Merz made on October 15 during a press event in Potsdam, Brandenburg, where he outlined his government’s efforts to counter the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party by tightening migration controls. Merz highlighted a sharp drop in irregular arrivals and boasted of accelerated deportations, stating that his administration had reduced migrant inflows by 60 percent between August 2024 and August 2025. He then added: “But of course, we still have this problem in the cityscape, and that’s why our interior minister is now also in the process of enabling and carrying out repatriations on a very large scale.”
The phrase “problem in the cityscape” immediately triggered intense backlash. Human rights organizations, opposition politicians, and even some members of Merz’s own coalition condemned the wording as discriminatory and reminiscent of far-right rhetoric. Critics argued that the expression stigmatized entire immigrant communities by implying their visible presence in urban areas is inherently problematic.
The controversy quickly spilled onto the streets. On October 19, around 5,000 people demonstrated in Berlin under the banner “We are the cityscape,” with similar protests taking place in Munich, Potsdam, and Nuremberg. A Change.org petition demanding an apology and a commitment to anti-discrimination measures gathered over 100,000 signatures within days. Prominent economists warned that such language risks deepening social division and deterring the skilled workers Germany urgently needs.
Merz, who became chancellor in May 2025 after the CDU-led coalition victory, has made strict migration policy a centerpiece of his agenda in an effort to win back voters tempted by the AfD. Defending his Potsdam remark, he later clarified that he was referring only to irregular migrants without legal status who neither work nor follow rules. He has also claimed that many Europeans, including parents of daughters, feel unsafe in public spaces due to unresolved migration challenges—a statement that drew further criticism for generalizing crime and patronizing women.
Within the governing coalition, the junior partner Social Democratic Party (SPD) expressed discomfort. SPD officials argued that overemphasizing migration in negative terms divides society and ultimately benefits extremists. The Greens and the Left Party have launched parliamentary inquiries into the government’s expanded deportation plans, raising concerns about proportionality and human rights.
Wednesday’s silent walkout, coordinated informally among scholarship holders via messaging apps, reflected growing frustration among younger Germans with migrant roots. Many of the foundation’s beneficiaries felt the chancellor’s presence at an event meant to celebrate integration was deeply ironic given his recent rhetoric. Speaking to reporters outside the venue, one protester said: “We’re here to honor integration, but his words make us feel like the problem, not the solution.”
The incident has amplified calls for Merz to moderate his language, especially with regional elections approaching in 2026. Advocacy groups and church leaders have reminded the public that immigrants have long been an integral part of Germany’s urban landscape and that policies should focus on building bridges rather than reinforcing divisions.
As the country continues to integrate more than 1.2 million people who arrived since 2022 while facing economic pressures, Merz’s attempt to balance tough enforcement with messages of inclusion remains precarious. The Talisman Prize walkout serves as a powerful reminder that, in a diverse society, a leader’s choice of words can either heal or deepen fractures of belonging.
