The End Of The Merkel Era Is Within Sight
As the placid surface of German society is disturbed, the positives of immigration are hard to seeOctober 26, 2015 4:20 pm
Gideon Rachman
At the beginning of this year, Angela Merkel had a good claim to be the most successful politician in the world. The German chancellor had won three successive election victories. She was the dominant political figure in Europe and hugely popular at home.
But the refugee crisis that has broken over Germany is likely to spell the end of the Merkel era. With the country in line to receive more than a million asylum-seekers this year alone, public anxiety is mounting — and so is criticism of Ms Merkel, from within her own party. Some of her close political allies acknowledge that it is now distinctly possible that the chancellor will have to leave office, before the next general election in 2017. Even if she sees out a full term, the notion of a fourth Merkel administration, widely discussed a few months ago, now seems improbable.
In some ways, all this is deeply unfair. Ms Merkel did not cause the Syrian civil war, or the troubles of Eritrea or Afghanistan. Her response to the plight of the millions of refugees displaced by conflict has been bold and compassionate. The chancellor has tried to live up to the best traditions of postwar Germany — including respect for human-rights and a determination to abide by international legal obligations.
The trouble is that Ms Merkel’s government has clearly lost control of the situation. German officials publicly endorse the chancellor’s declaration that “We can do this”. But there is panic just beneath the surface: costs are mounting, social services are creaking, Ms Merkel’s poll ratings are falling and far-right violence is on the rise. Der Spiegel, a news magazine, wrote this week that: “Germany these days is a place where people feel entirely uninhibited about expressing their hatred and xenophobia.”
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appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)their hatred and xenophobia' from Der Spiegel is not only a revealing statement about behavior in Germany but also attitudes and actions in many other places unfortunately. Rising discontent, bigotry and aggression are related to widespread neoliberal economics, globalization and social and economic instability including disruptive wars and the 2008 economic crisis, IMO. The liberties of social media might be influencing anti social expression as well. These factors plus basic, ugly aspects of human nature obviously.
~ What will transpire in terms of Germany's leadership after Merkel's steady hand we don't know, but as the 'leader/power' nation of Europe I hope the next person in her position is as capable as she is.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)fwiw...
cprise
(8,445 posts)It pens us into patriotism and borders, while a capitalist class can hop around the globe at will and cut deals that pit working class people against each other.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)but throwing the gates open and telling EVERYBODY to come wasn't going to be anything but an unmitigated disaster for both Germany and the countries that the migrants/refugees/whatever felt they had the right to pass through freely like it was the parking lot of a closed shopping mall...
Germans should think twice before showing Merkel the door, since the far right has already taken over Poland, and are gaining votes in other countries...
Cal33
(7,018 posts)birth-rate in Germany is falling at an alarming rate. If this situation continues,
in 20 years the population will fall from the present 82 million to 72 million. There
will be fewer and fewer young people who will have to support a large number of
old retired people.
One way of preventing that from happening is to accept more immigrants, who
are mostly young people. It seems to be as good a way as any.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)That was the whole point of the open borders: so that people within Europe could go to where the jobs are.
It doesn't make sense to ship people in en masse from a different culture and a dozen combat zones.
Whatever she's playing at, Merkel has overplayed her hand. Germany doesn't want to be the Pied Piper of the migrant masses.
(Not to mention that the whole of Europe is suffering under "austerity" with welfare services cut for the unemployed, disabled etc. So again it doesn't make sense to ship people en masse to an already overburdened welfare state, overburdened health, schooling system, housing etc).
Cal33
(7,018 posts)also take the trouble of learning a new language, etc., in order to be able to land a job in the
country of their choice. Those who did not seek jobs in other countries probably had their
reasons not to do so.
The jobless rate has also become high -- in Germany too. Perhaps Merkel did overplay her
hand. There are people in Germany who are intending to vote against her in their next election.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)borders, which is equivalent to Texas seceding.
Germany simply cannot cope with the numbers streaming in since Merkel invited them in and voided the Dublin protocol.
She may have to step down before the next election IMO.
Cal33
(7,018 posts)CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-1059357.html
Just like everywhere else in the west, the German media is tightly controlled, but you can get a small glimpse of the public mood from looking at readers' comments here and there.
