Germany’s Merkel faces party congress amid tensions over management of migrant influx

Ahead of an European Union summit this week, Merkel said she was banking on a multi-pronged approach to cut refugee numbers, urging bolstered protection for the bloc’s external borders, support for Turkey to host refugees long-term, and a long-shot bid for a distribution scheme among European Union member states. The recent poll conducted by German web platform, Alles Schall und Rauch, asked more than 3,000 of its readers from Germany and 40 other countries to determine the world’s “liar of the year”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a party convention of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in Karlsruhe, Germany, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015.

Merkel’s “open-doors” policy towards people fleeing war in Syria, while initially popular in September when she offered refuge to thousands of migrants trapped in Budapest’s train station, has met stiff resistance since it became clear that a million refugees or more will arrive in Germany this year – four times the level of 2014.

“I can say that because it’s a part of the identity of our country to do great things”, she said. She stresses instead the importance of a diplomatic solution with Europe and Turkey.

Germany has been struggling with the largest refugee wave since the World War II, and many politicians are criticizing Angela Merkel for her refusal to put a cap on the number of the newcomers.

But leaders have made some concessions in a motion for the Christian Democratic Union’s conference starting Monday.

The resolution, which is due to be submitted to the party’s delegates on Monday, states that the CDU is determined to reduce the influx through “effective measures”.

Fortunately for Merkel, who has led the party for 15 years and Germany for a decade, she does not have to face a re-election vote this time as CDU chief.

But she has said Europe should think about agreeing on joint quotas for refugees.

Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants to reduce the number of refugees coming to Germany but is refusing to declare a limit.