Merkel refuses cap on number of refugees

More than one million asylum seekers have arrived in Germany this year, and Mrs Merkel has seen her approval ratings plummet as public opinion has turned against her policy.

Merkel, whose popularity has fallen over her dealing with of the refugee crisis, stated the word “limit” didn’t feature within the CDU’s main decision which can be debated at the two-day party bash congress beginning on Monday. within the southern city of Karlsruhe.

In a dramatic shift in policy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed that there was a need to drastically reduce the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the country.

Urging her party to believe in itself, she cited Germany’s transformation in the last decade – from sick man to European powerhouse – as proof of what was possible when people embraced change to cope with a huge challenge. But at least for now, the conservative party seems to be once again united and behind its leader.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands on the stage during a party convention of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in Karlsruhe, Germany, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. “That was a situation which has put European values to a test, more than ever before. But for me it is very important to say that we are going to live up to our humanitarian responsibility, and our responsibility to Europe”.

She drew enthusiastic applause as she repeated her rallying cry “We can do it” during an impassioned hour-long speech, capped by nine minutes in which the almost 1,000 delegates took to their feet to cheer their chancellor, who beamed and waved from the stage.

This said: “A continuation of the current influx would in the long term overwhelm the state and society, even in a country like Germany”.

“We insist on European solidarity”, she said.

“The refugee crisis is a historic test for Europe, and I want – hopefully, I can say that we all want – that Europe passes this test”, Merkel said, adding that she and her country “will do our bit to make sure this happens”.

Merkel – who still faces a huge battle with her European counterparts – to relocate hundreds of thousands of refugees all over Europe – said Germany had a history of helping refugees and owed it to them to do its utmost to give them a home in Europe. But she also said that Germany, which is on pace to take on one million refugees this year, can only do so much.

The new emphasis on cutting refugee numbers is the result of a last-minute compromise between the party leadership and rebels in the run-up to the conference.

Her remarks Sunday, that she meant to “reduce the number of refugees noticeably”, were her strongest statements so far that Germany’s ability to handle the influx does have limits. “And therefore we also have the duty to work for the unity of Europe”.