Merkel Under Pressure for Her Unwillingness to Build Barriers for Migrants

• 11.05.2015, 11:47
•  Europe,  World

Horst Seehofer and Angela Merkel

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected the possibility of closing the border between Germany and Austria, as according to her this move could lead to a military scenario in Europe, which would turn into a disaster for each European Union country.

According to Deutsche Welle, Merkel warned about the danger of an armed conflict in case Germany closed the border with Austria in order to stop the flow of refugees.

The Chancellor said that although she would not like to show a pessimism, the current tensed atmosphere is likely to lead to armed clashes sooner or later, - ''And in Europe no one needs such a scenario'', Merkel assured.

According to the Chancellor, the Hungarian border barrier led to the fact that people started to seek ways through Croatia, Slovenia or Romania. After the construction of the German-Austrian border barriers, refugees thus will try to reach Germany through other countries, which will lead to further escalation of the crisis rather than resolving it.

Merkel once again stressed the need for European solidarity on the migrant crisis.

"I want people in Germany to be able to say in a few years ''they did it well, and we were able to manage it,'" she said, as The Express reports.

But the unwillingness of Merkel to build a barrier that would stop the refugee influx caused a harsh criticism in Germany towards the Chancellor.

In particular, Horst Seehofer, the head of the southern state of Bavaria – which has been receiving the bulk of the refugees arriving via Austria, said that helping people in need and integrating new arrivals is only feasible "if there is also a reduction in the refugee figures."

Seehofer criticized Merkel's welcoming approach to refugees for weeks, demanding federal government action and accusing her of lacking any focused plan and of encouraging refugees to come to Germany.

But the pressure on Merkel is also growing within her own party. According to Christian Democrats MP Christian Stetten  a petition had been prepared urging the Chancellor to limit the number of refugees allowed into Germany, - writes The Independent.

So Merkel is coming under increasing pressure from within her conservative alliance and from the electorate to show she is managing the crisis amid mounting complaints from municipalities that they are unable to cope with the number of refugees, particular as winter approaches.

According to opinion polls, Merkel’s Christian Democrats Party popularity has dropped in recent weeks, to 36%, its lowest level for three years. Surveys show the right wing anti-immigrant party ''Alternative für Deutschland'' is gaining support over the issue.

Thus, given the big challenge Germany is facing because of strong immigration of refugees, the dispute between the main parties and even within the parties threatens the the government's  stability and viability.

The implication of which  may cause a malfunction in the so-called ''European Government'' given the fact that Germany actually leads the European policies and their main strategies.