Dominic Afscharian

German chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz (R) in a televised pre-election debate. Michael Kappeler/EPA-EFE

German party leaders are united against immigration – but there is little evidence for a key part of their argument

At the centre of the immigration debate is the notion of “welfare magnetism”: the idea that migrants are drawn to Germany by its generous welfare system.

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