Immigrants in Germany will be required to integrate into the country’s “cultural and historical foundations,” and non-European refugees may face stricter border controls after the upcoming election under bombshell new plans.
The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has highlighted the principle of “Leitkultur” (guiding culture) as a central theme in its manifesto for the February elections, emphasising the need for immigrants to align with Germany’s cultural norms and values, which they will enforce if victorious at the ballot box.
“Leitkultur” is the principle that foreigners should adopt German cultural values and not vice versa.
Other key aspects of “Leitkultur” include respect for the equal rights of women, Israel’s right to exist and the rule of democracy.
Alexander Throm, the CDU interior affairs spokesman, told The Telegraph that this concept was the way citizens lived in Germany as a cultural nation.
“It concerns not only our languages and customs, but also our cultural and historical foundations. It ultimately means that people, no matter why they come to Germany, orient themselves towards this cultural basis, not the other way around,” he said.
“Leitkultur” was first made popular 20 years ago by Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader. At the time politicians called it divisive and populist.
Angela Merkel removed the concept from party discussions and policymaking after she replaced Friedrich Merz as CDU leader in 2002.
Now back at the helm of the party, Merz is actively promoting this idea in his campaign.
If the CDU wins in February, the party plans to introduce measures to turn away non-European refugees, citing Germany’s commitment to accommodating Ukrainian refugees.
The country has already welcomed 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees, more than any other EU member state.
Mr Throm said: “It is clear that we stand by our European neighbours and by refugees. But it’s also clear that, with every further movement of refugees in our direction, we must ensure that they are appropriately distributed in all European countries.”
He added: “It’s also clear that we, due to our special duty to our Ukrainian neighbours, must be even more restrictive when it comes to refugees from all other countries in the world, especially outside Europe.”
In 2023, around 1.93 million immigrants came to Germany, even more than Britain’s 1.2 million in the same year.