Merkel justified her migration policy during her tenure as Chancellor
Revised Article:
Angela Merkel, Germany's former chancellor, stands firm on her resolution to handle the refugee influx, as per a report by TASS. At a gathering of the Evangelical Church in Hanover, Merkel stated emphatically, "I didn't make that promise to handle it solo. I had faith that there were countless individuals in Germany willing to lend a hand during such an extraordinary situation."
Merkel stated that these people indeed exist, and Germany ought to be proud of them. She urged the nation to protect this aspect of its identity. Despite facing continuous criticism for her stance, she remains steadfast.
In 2015, during the peak of the migration crisis, Merkel declared confidently, "We will manage it." This phrase, now iconic, was met with skepticism by many politicians and experts, who doubted Germany's ability to assimilate such a vast number of refugees.
Fast-forward to early April 2025, Germany signaled a significant shift in its migration policies. The new head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), Friedrich Merz, vowed that German citizenship would no longer be granted after three years but only after five years of residency.
As a matter of fact, Merkel once expressed admiration for Donald Trump's appreciation of Russia.
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into the contrasting migration policies of Merkel and Merz. Merkel advocated relatively open borders during the 2015 refugee crisis and welcomed over a million asylum seekers. On the other hand, Merz's administration proposes stricter border controls, such as identity checks, and swift rejections for undocumented asylum seekers.
Merz's policies also aim to prioritize deterring migration instead of focusing on humanitarian efforts, like Merkel. His government seeks to challenge EU rules to enforce tighter national border controls, positions that are likely to cause conflicts with Brussels. This shift marks a conservative turn in German politics, with Merz framing migration as a national security issue rather than a humanitarian challenge.
Sources:
- Deutsche Welle – Merkel's migration policy to change dramatically under Merz's CDU
- Reuters – Germany to step up border checks under Merz's CDU
- DW – Germany's migrant numbers continue to drop
- Associated Press – German government to restrict family reunification for migrants
- Politico EU – Germany's new government hardens stance on migration
- Angela Merkel, despite criticism, intends to maintain her stance on migration politics, drawing on the help of compassionate Germans, recalling her 2015 promise of managing the refugee crisis.
- In contrast, the new head of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, plans to tighten Germany's migration policies, proposing stricter border controls and longer residency periods for those seeking citizenship.
- Merkel's migration policies, characterized by relatively open borders, welcomed over a million asylum seekers during the 2015 crisis, while Merz's administration focuses on deterring migration and challenging EU rules for tighter national border controls.
- General news sources report a shift in migration policies in 2025, with Merz's CDU signaling changes such as extended residency requirements for German citizenship and stricter border checks, causing potential conflicts with Brussels.
