Merkel’s Bavarian allies reignite refugee row with call for cap

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's right-wing allies from Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) stepped up criticism of her open-door refugee policy on 3 January 2016, with their leader demanding a cap of 200,000 migrants a year, about a fifth of the number in 2015.

Ms Merkel has faced splits in her conservative bloc and coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) over her insistence that Germany can cope with the refugee crisis as towns struggle to house migrants, many having fled war in the Middle East and Africa.

The Chancellor used her New Year's speech to urge Germans to see the influx of refugees as an opportunity for the future.

Some days later, the German Interior Ministry unveiled figures showing a record number of 1.1 million asylum-seekers arrived in the country in 2015.

On the 6 January 2016 the German Chancellor dismissed the suggestion of a cap on refugees for 2016.

ESO: Background information: Merkel gets backing on refugee crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-gets-backing-on-refugee-crisis/

Deutsche Welle, 03.01.16: Bavarian leader Seehofer says Germany can take in maximum of 200,000 refugees http://dw.com/p/1HXKQ

Sputnik International, 03.01.16: Germany Can Accept Up to 200,000 Refugees Each Year http://sptnkne.ws/awwN

BBC News, 31.12.15: Migrant crisis: Merkel urges Germans to see 'opportunity' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35204495

EUObserver, 31.12.15: Merkel: Migrants are 'opportunity' for Germany https://euobserver.com/migration/131691

The Guardian, 31.12.15: Merkel urges Germans to see refugee arrivals as 'an opportunity' in new year address http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/merkel-urges-germans-to-see-refugee-arrivals-as-an-opportunity-in-new-year-address

The Wall Street Journal, 30.12.15: Merkel: Germany Strong Enough to Handle Migrant Influx http://www.wsj.com/articles/merkel-germany-strong-enough-to-handle-migrant-influx-1451516401

Politico, 04.01.16: Merkel rejects Seehofer’s call for refugee limit http://www.politico.eu/article/merkel-rejects-seehofer-call-for-refugee-limit-migration-opposition-wir-schaffen-das/

Politico, 06.01.16: Germany: 1.1 million refugee arrivals in 2015 http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-1-1-million-refugee-arrivals-in-2015/

EurActiv, 06.01.16: Confirmation: Germany welcomed 1 million refugees in 2015 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/confirmation-germany-welcomed-1-million-refugees-2015-320724

Deutsche Welle, 06.01.16: Merkel rejects limits on refugee intake at CSU meeting in Bavaria http://dw.com/p/1HZRU

EurActiv, 08.01.16: Reuniting refugee families ‘not a priority’ for Berlin http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/reuniting-refugee-families-low-priority-berlin-320815

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 21.01.16: Merkel, Isolated and With No Plan B http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=62530

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