Bavaria's conservative CSU seeks faster returns of Syrians

Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), which is in alliance with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at the national level, wants to further tighten migration policy and swiftly send most Syrian refugees back to their home country.

For most Syrians with temporary protection status, the grounds for protection lapsed following the end of the civil war, according to a position paper seen by dpa.

For those who do not leave voluntarily, deportations must be initiated as quickly as possible, the paper says.

The document was prepared for discussion at a retreat of the CSU's parliamentary group in Bavaria.

The paper calls for a major push in 2026 to step up deportations to both Syria and Afghanistan. It proposes setting up nationwide departure centres as well as a dedicated deportation terminal at Munich airport.

The CSU also signalled a tougher line on Ukrainian refugees. The paper says the party will push for military-age Ukrainian men in particular to make their contribution to the defence of their country, without providing further details.

The document contains additional demands. It calls for criminal penalties for public calls to establish an Islamist state, or caliphate.

Demands to abolish Germany's liberal democratic constitutional order or the commission of anti-Semitic offences should, it says, result in mandatory deportation, the denial of residence permits and, in the case of dual nationals, the loss of German citizenship.