What You Need to Know About Angela Merkel's Immigration Crisis

BERLIN – The German government has almost collapsed on the issue of immigration, an issue that overturned – or threatened to tip – a number of settlement governments across the country. European Union. Here's what you need to know.

There is much talk of a migrant crisis. But is it really a crisis?

The figures reveal a different picture. There is no more "migrant crisis" per se, but there is certainly a political crisis on the issue of migration. In Germany in particular, there is the memory of the year 2015, when Ms Merkel welcomed nearly a million migrants and refugees as part of what she had christened the 'Willkommenskultur' "Or home culture of Germany. Her opponents in Germany and across Europe have regularly attacked her for this, forcing her to change course, as has clearly shown her recent clash with Horst Seehofer, her own minister of intelligence. 39; Interior.

But the numbers speak for themselves. This year, the number of migrant arrivals in Europe has fallen back to levels before 2015. In 2016, for example, up to 62,000 people applied for asylum in Germany each month . In the first part of 2018, this number has fallen to nearly 15,000, according to official statistics of German immigration. It is the same throughout the European Union, with illegal arrivals at all levels.

According to Eurostat, the official data collection branch of the European Union, asylum seekers for the first time have fallen by 25% in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017 This does not mean that Germany and other European countries have not encountered difficulties in integrating arrived migrants, but simply to show that the "crisis" at this stage is entirely political. [19659006] Why did all this appear now?

In Germany, there is a particular reason why this is happening now. Merkel's coalition is a fragile coalition dominated by her party, Christian Democrats, or the CDU, with her Bavarian brother party, the Christian Social Union, or CSU. The CSU is facing regional elections in its October constituency, the conservative Bavaria, and the party has already lost ground in Bavaria for the far-right populist party of the Alternative for Germany (AfD)

. Horst Seehofer, the head of the CSU, was widely regarded as a vote-grubbing tactic before the October vote. For the moment, the strategy has not been successful: recent polls in Bavaria still show a 1.9% decline in support for the CDU / CSU coalition, alongside an increase of 2 , 4% of support to the AfD. Admittedly, some CSU members are offended by Seehofer's stance, since, in their view, he risked a national and European political crisis over the future of his own political party

" thing is clear: the stability of the government is not an issue for us, "said Markus Söder, the Bavarian prime minister, as well as Seehofer's rival in the party. "You can achieve a lot within a government, but not outside of it."

The context is also unfolding against the backdrop of a European institution increasingly concerned about the issue of migration, and Merkel is far from alone European leaders under increasing national pressure to take a line more lasts on migrants. French President Emmanuel Macron, who will adopt a more radical immigration law this summer, is no exception to the rule. In a recent speech, Macron said that leaders of liberal Europe must accept that the continent "can not accommodate everyone," he said, "more responsible" than "play on fears "

That France and her national cohesion remain intact," he said.

What did Merkel agree to do?

Merkel may have been celebrated as an icon liberal, although she is leader of the German conservative party.The recent compromise on immigration moved it to the right.The chancellor has never been the leader of the pro-open borders , her critics have portrayed her as – she pushed for the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers and toughening laws – but her latest deal could mark a turning point

. the country is controversial for a number of reasons, including its impact on the Schengen borderless zone A large part of continental Europe is free of border controls, but countries have recently reintroduced controls in some areas where a large number of immigrants are entering. This agreement could be threatened if countries decide to reinstate permanent border controls. Human rights organizations also question whether transit centers where migrants are held before deportation would violate their rights.

Ms Merkel repeatedly stressed that a European solution was needed. to comply with European law, according to certain interpretations. This is probably a reason why Merkel and her government will now seek to conclude bilateral treaties with countries to enforce their compromise with the CSU.

The current compromise may preserve Merkel's government for the moment, but there are at least two obstacles that could still pose risks. First, the past two weeks have further widened the gap between Merkel's CDU and the CSU, which has taken an increasingly conservative stance on a number of issues. While both parties have agreed to return to the status quo for now, Seehofer's demands and his desire to stand up to Merkel have been rooted in a much deeper dissatisfaction that has accumulated for years . These voltages could explode once again.