Merkel admits mistakes, sticks to refugee policy

Series Title
Series Details 20.09.16
Publication Date 20/09/2016
Content Type

German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted on the 19 September 2016 some mistakes in her refugee policy, but did not reverse her 2015 decision to have an open door policy to asylum seekers.

In her first speech since the resounding defeat of the CDU party in Berlin's state election on the 18 September 2016 and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the 4 September 2016, Mrs Merkel stated she would turn back time if she could to better prepare for the migrant wave hitting the country in 2015. She also pledged not to let that situation of 'uncontrolled immigration' be repeated.

Ms Merkel acknowledged that voters wanted to see a change in her policy, but added that they had not given a clear picture of what they wanted in its place.

Later in December, the Chancellor confirmed the country was not going to impose a limit on the number of refugees taken in.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://euobserver.com/news/135157
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Under-fire Merkel defends migration policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/under-fire-merkel-defends-migration-policy/
ESO: Background information: Is this really the beginning of the end for Merkel? Why the CDU is still well placed to win in 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-this-really-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-merkel-why-the-cdu-is-still-well-placed-to-win-in-2017/
Deutsche Welle, 19.09.16: Merkel accepts partial blame for Berlin defeat http://dw.com/p/1K4ut
BBC News, 19.09.16: Berlin election: Merkel links migrant crisis to CDU defeat http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37409451
The Local.de, 19.09.16: Merkel: we were unprepared for refugee influx in 2015 http://www.thelocal.de/20160919/merkel-admits-mistakes-as-anti-migrant-party-surges-in-berlin
The Wall Street Journal, 19.09.16: Merkel Says Germany Won’t Stop Accepting Refugees, Muslims http://www.wsj.com/articles/merkel-says-germany-wont-stop-accepting-refugees-muslims-1474288469
The New York Times, 19.09.16: Angela Merkel Accepts Responsibility for Party’s Losses in Berlin Election http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/world/europe/berlin-elections-merkel.html
The Guardian, 19.09.16: Angela Merkel admits mistakes over asylum seekers after disastrous election https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/angela-merkel-admits-mistakes-asylum-seekers-election
Politico, 19.09.16: Angela Merkel: refugee policy misunderstood, not mistaken http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-refugee-policy-misunderstood-not-mistaken-berlin-elections-migration-afd/
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 20.09.16: Merkel After Berlin’s Regional Election http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64627
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Merkel admits mistakes in refugee policy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166423/merkel-admits-mistakes-in-refugee-policy
Politico, 20.09.16: Angela Merkel’s kinda sorta mea culpa http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkels-kinda-sorta-mea-culpa-migration-refugees-germany-far-right-afd-elections-berlin-2017/
EurActiv, 22.09.16: Schäuble defends Seehofer in German refugee row http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/schauble-defends-seehofer-in-german-refugee-row/
Politico, 01.12.16: Angela Merkel: No refugee cap in Germany http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-no-refugee-migrants-cap-in-germany/

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