Merkel gets backing on refugee crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has brought her party into line: the CDU voted in favour of a motion on refugee policy by a large majority on their party conference on the 14 December 2015. This meant the upper limit on refugees the CDU's sister party the CSU was pushing for is off the agenda. Commentators believed Merkel won't have to deal with any more criticism from within her party for now and hope that others will follow the example set by the 'post-national' chancellor.

This Main Focus from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Merkel pressured by own camp to change course on refugees / Berlin and Vienna try to put brakes on refugee influx http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-pressured-by-own-camp-to-change-course-on-refugees-berlin-and-vienna-try-to-put-brakes-on-refugee-influx/

Deutsche Welle, 15.12.15: Seehofer defuses refugee row with Merkel, despite upper limit demand http://dw.com/p/1HNRf

Spiegel Online International, 15.12.15: [Editorial]: Reflecting on Refugees: A Plea for Measured Debate http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/refugee-debate-in-germany-needs-more-nuance-a-1067761.html

The Local.de, 14.12.15: Merkel speech quashes fear of party dissent http://www.thelocal.de/20151214/merkel-speech-quashes-fear-of-party-dissent

Politico, 15.12.15: Merkel’s Bavarian ally pledges unity on refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/merkels-bavarian-ally-pledges-unity-on-refugees/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 15.12.15: Merkel Wins Time, Merkel Loses Europe http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=62280

EurActiv, 15.12.15: Merkel receives support from coalition allies http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/merkel-receives-support-coalition-allies-320467

---