Merkel’s motto “We can do it” is definitely over. The German Chancellor is adopting a tough tone after her welcome policy from 2015. In front of the media this week, she indirectly urged Afghans to stay in their country.
“We have already taken in very many Afghan refugees,” said Angela Merkel (CDU, 67). “We have to approach the matter differently.” Germany could not compensate for everything “that is difficult in Afghanistan”. And further: “We cannot solve all of these problems by accepting people.”
Millions of people in Afghanistan are waiting to travel to Europe for fear of the Taliban. The terrorist group has been on the rise since the US announced the withdrawal of its troops.
Babies named after Merkel
In 2015, Merkel welcomed over a million migrants with open arms. People who wanted to go to Europe had only one goal: Germany, possibly Sweden, which is also open. Several Syrian parents even named their newborns Angela Merkel out of gratitude.
Many migrants sent selfies of themselves and Merkel to their homeland, which intensified the influx. By 2019, 1.7 million people had applied for asylum in Germany. Almost 560,000 came from Syria – the Afghans followed in second place with almost 200,000 applications.
However, the great immigration within a short period of time led to problems. The crime rate temporarily increased noticeably. For example, New Year’s Eve of 2015 is unforgettable, when there were thefts and hundreds of attacks on women by migrants at Cologne Cathedral.
“Political culture damaged”
At the press conference this week, the Chancellor made it clear that such conditions should not happen again. In the “Picture”-Zeitung says the FDP MP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (54): “Finally the Chancellor says it so clearly: Migration can only run in an orderly manner.” Merkel’s refugee policy from 2015 damaged the political culture and only made the right-wing AfD strong. Lambsdorff: “The Chancellor now shows a certain insight, unfortunately too late.”
The German Chancellor will no longer run in the elections on September 26th. She was in office for 16 years. With her clear words on the subject of refugees, she has started a tough final spurt.