Germany is once again at the center of a heated debate over its migration policies, social welfare system, and the resilience of its democracy, as it marks the tenth anniversary of former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s iconic phrase, “wir schaffen das” (“we can do it”). On August 30 and 31, 2025, the nation reflected on a decade of profound change, with events across the country highlighting both the progress made and the persistent tensions that shape German society today.
Back in 2015, Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s borders to refugees fleeing wars in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq was met with both hope and controversy. Her words became a rallying cry for humanitarianism, symbolizing a newfound confidence in Germany’s ability to welcome and integrate the displaced. According to DW, by 2022, nearly two-thirds of the refugees who arrived during that wave had found employment. Yet, challenges remain: migrants in Germany are still four times more likely to be jobless than the native population, with an unemployment rate of 28% in 2024.
This anniversary comes as current Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a member of Merkel’s own CDU party, distances himself from her legacy. “We must control immigration. And we must ensure that those who come to us are well integrated,” Merz stated recently, as reported by DW. He has made immigration control a central pillar of his administration, reflecting a broader shift in public sentiment as support for the far-right AfD surges, fueled in part by concerns over crime and integration.
Economic anxieties are compounding these political debates. On August 31, 2025, Merz pledged that his government would not raise taxes, despite a looming €30 billion budget deficit projected for 2027. This stance puts him at odds with his own finance minister, Social Democrat Lars Klingbeil, who has floated the idea of increasing taxes to help fill the gap. “We have a coalition agreement,” Merz told public broadcaster ZDF. “We have agreed in this coalition agreement that taxes will not be raised. And this coalition agreement stands.” He also pointed to excessive sick leave, stagnant productivity, and high labor costs as factors burdening the German economy, urging citizens to “work more and longer.”
Meanwhile, Klingbeil voiced support for tightening welfare requirements. Endorsing Labor Minister Bärbel Bas’s proposal to overhaul the country’s Bürgergeld (citizens’ money) payments, Klingbeil promised to “turn up the pressure” on those abusing the system. “It is indecent when someone receives Bürgergeld, works for cash, enriches themselves at the cost of everyone else,” he said on public broadcaster ARD. For Klingbeil, fairness means that “everyone must work a little harder to make society better.”
Against this backdrop, the country was rocked by a series of dramatic incidents. On August 31, Greek and German police, acting on tips from the US Drug Enforcement Agency, announced a major joint operation that resulted in five arrests and the seizure of roughly 300 kilograms of cocaine destined for sale in the European Union. Authorities described the gang as highly organized, with a tightly regulated supply chain and at least €5 million in illicit profits before the bust, DW reported.
That same day, Hamburg police launched an investigation into the shooting death of a 33-year-old man in a hookah lounge in the city’s Hohenfelde neighborhood. The bar, already known to authorities due to previous violent incidents linked to the local drug scene, was cordoned off as K-9 and forensic teams searched for clues. The homicide commission is leading the probe, while a Red Cross crisis team supports the victim’s relatives.
Elsewhere, German basketball star Dennis Schröder faced racist abuse during Germany’s 107-88 victory over Lithuania at the 2025 EuroBasket championship in Tampere, Finland. “You can insult me, do whatever you want, but monkey noises are not acceptable,” Schröder told reporters. “Racism simply does not belong in this sport.” The incident, which Schröder and members of the coaching staff said came from the Lithuanian fan block, has sparked renewed calls for stronger anti-racism measures in European sports.
Protests also turned violent in Cologne on August 30, when an anti-war demonstration organized by the “Disarm Rheinmetall” alliance ended with police deploying batons and tear gas. Dozens of demonstrators and officers were injured, and police reported finding smoke grenades, bottles of ethanol, and gas canisters in a vehicle linked to the march. Organizers accused police of depriving detained protesters of basic needs, while police insisted medical treatment was provided where necessary.
In Berlin, more than 10,000 people joined the Love Train techno parade, celebrating themes of climate change, tolerance, and diversity. Slogans like “Love is louder” and “Bass instead of hate” filled the streets, offering a stark contrast to the weekend’s more somber events.
But perhaps the most polarizing story of the weekend involved the far-right activist Marla-Svenja Liebich, formerly known as Sven Liebich. Convicted in 2023 of incitement to racial hatred and defamation, Liebich was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, after legally changing gender under Germany’s new Self-Determination Act, Liebich requested to serve the sentence in a women’s facility, sparking fierce debate over potential abuse of the law. On or before August 31, 2025, an arrest warrant was issued after Liebich failed to begin the sentence at Chemnitz women’s prison. Police confirmed that Liebich had fled abroad, with social media posts placing her in Moscow, Russia. “Nobody knew about my decision – no lawyer, no family,” Liebich posted on X, sharing a photo in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral with the caption “From Moscow with Love, James Bond” and the hashtag #runningwoman. In another post, Liebich referenced her Russian language skills and claimed to be in contact with “officials close to the Kremlin,” while announcing plans to seek asylum in the US.
The case has prompted Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to call for a reevaluation of the Self-Determination Act. “The judiciary, the public and politicians are being made fools of here,” Dobrindt told local media, arguing for clearer rules to prevent abuse of gender reassignment laws. Critics, however, say it is unfair to use one individual’s actions as a pretext for restricting the rights of others who depend on self-determination. UN expert Reem Alsalem previously warned that the law could put women and girls at risk if not accompanied by additional safeguards—a concern rejected by the federal government.
In a tragic turn, rescue teams in Italy recovered the body of a German man from Lake Como after he disappeared while saving his children in a boating accident. The search, hampered by bad weather and challenging conditions, ended nearly a week after the incident.
As Germany reflects on a decade since “wir schaffen das,” the nation finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the legacies of openness, the pressures of integration, and the ever-present challenge of ensuring justice and social cohesion in a rapidly changing world.