Markus Söder said inconsistent deportations have helped fuel support for the far-right AfD and insisted that Germany is now enforcing returns more vigorously. He also urged swift completion of economic reforms to restore competitiveness. Söder warned that plant closures and large job cuts in the automotive sector could push some people toward radicalisation.
Söder: Stricter Deportations and Faster Economic Reforms Needed to Curb AfD Support
Markus Söder, premier of Bavaria, takes part in the summer interview programme of German public broadcaster ARD. (is associated with: «Bavarian leader says deportations and economy key to beating AfD») Fabian Sommer/dpa
Bavarian leader Markus Söder says part of the surge in support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) stems from what he views as inconsistent deportation practices — and he argues that stronger enforcement coupled with decisive economic policy is needed to blunt the party's appeal.
What Söder Said
Speaking in a summer interview on public broadcaster ARD, Söder — who is both the head of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) and the state's premier — noted that fewer people are arriving in Germany but that "there are still very many here who have no right of residence." He added that people without valid residence permits must be returned to their countries of origin and said:
"We are doing this in Germany now very, very strongly."
Economy and Political Risk
Söder stressed that law enforcement alone is not enough to weaken the AfD. He called for urgent completion of economic reforms to restore competitiveness, arguing that a healthier economy reduces the social and political grievances that feed extremist sentiment. He warned that if major employers — notably in Germany's once-dominant automotive sector — announce plant closures or large job cuts, "the path of a person who no longer sees a future for themselves towards a radical decision becomes very easy indeed."
Why It Matters
Söder's comments link migration enforcement and economic performance to the broader political landscape in Germany. They reflect a dual strategy from a mainstream conservative leader: tighten immigration controls perceived as lax while accelerating reforms intended to protect jobs and growth — particularly in regions vulnerable to industrial downsizing.
Context: The AfD has been gaining traction in parts of Germany by campaigning on immigration and economic insecurity. Söder's remarks are aimed at countering that momentum by addressing both issues.
Help us improve.
