German Elation Over Merkel Refugee Welcome Fails to Trickle Down

Media reports in Germany suggest that the elation displayed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior officials in her government over the arrival of thousands of refugees from the Syrian Civil War is increasingly limited to just that, and without agreement from the rank-and-file. Merkel’s government has said it will accept as many as 1 million refugees this year. According to the French news agency AFP, criticism of Merkel’s policy begins within her own conservative bloc and extends throughout the electorate. Another media source is quoted as chiding Merkel, saying, “invitations for all the world’s refugees to come to Germany could overburden our society.” Still other media outlets are predicting that the refugee issue could be the one to bring down her infallible grip on government for the past decade. AFP noted that after 20,000 refugees arrived in one weekend, Merkel was quoted as saying that the sudden influx would “change our country in coming years,” and that, “we want that the change is positive.”