Germany’s Merkel vows to curb refugee numbers

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised her conservative party supporters that her government’s recent diplomatic initiatives will bring a noticeable decline in the refugee influx.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves to the delegates after her speech during a party convention of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in Karlsruhe, Germany, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015.

That stance may be seen as a contradiction of her policy allowing one million refugees into Germany while most other European nations remain hesitant to open their gates. The new arrivals have put the popular Merkel under increasing pressure, particularly in her own camp.

Merkel’s critics still continue to question her policy.

Despite being named person of the year by both Time magazine and the Financial Times for her response to the crisis, Mrs Merkel has faced criticism for encouraging an influx of migrants and refugees to the EU.

Merkel’s use of the phrase “noticeably reduce” came directly from a resolution the CDU leadership hastily reworked on the eve of the congress to head off an open rebellion over her refugee policy.

“We want Europe to pass this test”, she said.

Merkel doesn’t face re-election as party leader at this congress, and despite this year’s tensions still faces no serious rivals.

Chancellor says it’s in everyone’s best interests to slow down refugee intake expected to reach one million this year.

Merkel has made clear that she wants to reduce the influx but has resisted calls to set a specific limit on the number of refugees Germany can take, arguing that she would risk making a promise that she can’t keep.

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. “That was no more and no less than a humanitarian imperative”, she said.

But with no end in sight to the influx, despite a respite due to rough winter weather complicating the perilous Mediterranean crossing, Germans are demanding a clear road map from the 61-year-old leader.

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

In addition, Merkel believed it was important to eliminate the root causes of refugee flows by promoting peace and stability in crisis countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The SPD, which has been riven between centrists and leftists since Merkel booted then chancellor Gerhard Schroeder out of office in 2005, trails far behind at about 24 percent.