Editing Angela Merkel (section)

==== 2015 European migrant crisis ====
{{Main|2015 European migrant crisis}}
{{See also|Wir schaffen das}}
[[File:Pedro Sánchez y Angela Merkel 05.jpg|thumb|Spanish prime minister [[Pedro Sánchez (politician)|Pedro Sánchez]] and Merkel in [[Sanlúcar de Barrameda]], 2018]]

Throughout the course of the [[2015 European migrant crisis|European migrant crisis]], Merkel encouraged cooperation between EU member states, urging that Europe needs to act "as a whole".<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 August 2015 |title=Migrant crisis: Merkel warns of EU 'failure' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34108224 |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34108224 |archive-date=4 June 2023}}</ref>

In late August 2015, at the height of the crisis, Merkel's government suspended the [[Dublin Regulation]], which stipulated that asylum seekers must seek asylum in the first EU country they arrive in. Merkel announced that Germany would also process asylum applications from Syrian refugees if they had come to Germany through other EU countries.<ref name="Holehouse-2015">{{cite news |last1=Holehouse |first1=Matthew |last2=Huggler |first2=Justin |last3=Vogt |first3=Andrea |date=24 August 2015 |title=Germany drops EU rules to allow in Syrian refugees |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11821822/Germany-drops-EU-rules-to-allow-in-Syrian-refugees.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612103828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11821822/Germany-drops-EU-rules-to-allow-in-Syrian-refugees.html |archive-date=12 June 2017}}</ref> That year, nearly 1.1 million asylum seekers entered Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2016 |title=Germany: 1.1 million refugee arrivals in 2015 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-1-1-million-refugee-arrivals-in-2015/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115239/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-1-1-million-refugee-arrivals-in-2015/ |archive-date=5 June 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2015 |title=Germany on course to accept one million refugees in 2015 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/germany-on-course-to-accept-one-million-refugees-in-2015 |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/germany-on-course-to-accept-one-million-refugees-in-2015 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Merkel coined the phrase {{lang|de|[[Wir schaffen das]]}} (literally 'We can do this') around this time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2016 |title=The phrase that haunts Angela Merkel |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-phrase-that-haunts-angela-merkel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328012508/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-phrase-that-haunts-angela-merkel/ |archive-date=28 March 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bannas |first1=Günter |last2=Berlin |date=31 December 2015 |title=Neujahrsansprache von Merkel: Wir schaffen das, denn Deutschland ist ein starkes Land |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/neujahrsansprache-von-merkel-wir-schaffen-das-denn-deutschland-ist-ein-starkes-land-13991331.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308114851/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/neujahrsansprache-von-merkel-wir-schaffen-das-denn-deutschland-ist-ein-starkes-land-13991331.html |archive-date=8 March 2023 |issn=0174-4909}}</ref>

Junior coalition partner and Vice Chancellor [[Sigmar Gabriel]] said that Germany could take in 500,000 refugees annually for the next several years.<ref>"[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34185353 Migrant crisis: Germany 'can take 500,000 asylum seekers a year'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020215118/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34185353|date=20 October 2020}}". BBC News. 8 September 2015.</ref> German opposition to the government's admission of the new wave of migrants was strong and coupled with a rise in anti-immigration protests.<ref name="Hill">{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jenny |date=30 July 2013 |title=Immigration fuels rising tension in Germany |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33700624 |url-status=live |access-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819003253/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33700624 |archive-date=19 August 2015}}</ref> Merkel insisted that Germany had the economic strength to cope with the influx of migrants and reiterated that there is no legal maximum limit on the number of migrants Germany can take.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 September 2015 |title=Germany: 'No Limit' To Refugees We'll Take In |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1547326/germany-no-limit-to-refugees-well-take-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410074018/http://news.sky.com/story/1547326/germany-no-limit-to-refugees-well-take-in |archive-date=10 April 2016 |access-date=6 September 2015 |publisher=Sky News}}</ref> In September 2015, enthusiastic crowds across the country welcomed arriving refugees and migrants.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 September 2015 |title=Germans welcome thousands of newly arrived refugees |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germans-welcome-thousands-of-newly-arrived-refugees/a-18696722 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908024110/https://www.dw.com/en/germans-welcome-thousands-of-newly-arrived-refugees/a-18696722 |archive-date=8 September 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref>

[[Horst Seehofer]], leader of the [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]] (CSU){{Em dash}}the sister party of Merkel's [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]]{{Em dash}}and then-[[Bavaria]]n Minister President, attacked Merkel's policies.<ref name="MerkelSplits">{{cite news |date=6 September 2015 |title=Merkel splits conservative bloc with green light to refugees |work=Reuters |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-germany-criticism-idUKKCN0R60T920150906 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009204535/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/06/uk-europe-migrants-germany-criticism-idUKKCN0R60T920150906 |archive-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> Seehofer criticised Merkel's decision to allow in migrants, saying that "[they were] in a state of mind without rules, without system and without order because of a German decision."<ref name="politico.eu">{{cite news |last=Delcker |first=Janosch |date=23 September 2015 |title=Viktor Orbán, Bavaria's hardline hero |work=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-bavaria-hardline-hero-seehofer-migration-borders/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119194404/https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-bavaria-hardline-hero-seehofer-migration-borders/ |archive-date=19 January 2018}}</ref> Seehofer argued that as many as 30% of asylum seekers arriving in Germany claiming to be from Syria are in fact from other countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Refugee crisis: Many migrants falsely claim to be Syrians, Germany says as EU tries to ease tensions |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11891219/Refugee-crisis-Many-migrants-falsely-claim-to-be-Syrians-Germany-says-as-EU-tries-to-ease-tensions.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=25 September 2015 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927233152/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11891219/Refugee-crisis-Many-migrants-falsely-claim-to-be-Syrians-Germany-says-as-EU-tries-to-ease-tensions.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He argued for a punitive reduction in EU funding for member countries that rejected mandatory refugee quotas.<ref>"[http://www.dw.com/en/berlin-calls-for-sanctions-on-eu-states-that-reject-refugee-quotas/a-18714957 Berlin calls for sanctions on EU states that reject refugee quotas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908024236/https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-calls-for-sanctions-on-eu-states-that-reject-refugee-quotas/a-18714957|date=8 September 2020}}". [[Deutsche Welle]]. 15 September 2015.</ref> Meanwhile, [[Yasmin Fahimi]], secretary-general of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD), the junior partner of the ruling coalition, praised Merkel's policy allowing migrants in Hungary to enter Germany as "a strong signal of humanity to show that Europe's values are valid also in difficult times".<ref name="MerkelSplits" /> Merkel's approval rating dropped to 54% in October 2015, the lowest it had been since 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/merkel-approval-rating-drops-to-four-year-low-on-refugee-crisis |first=Rainer |last=Buergin |title=Merkel Approval Rating Drops to Four-Year Low on Refugee Crisis |work=Bloomberg |date=2 October 2015 |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307231318/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/merkel-approval-rating-drops-to-four-year-low-on-refugee-crisis |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2015, there were talks inside the governing coalition to stop family unification for migrants for two years and to establish "Transit Zones" on the border. Additionally, there were plans to provide housing to migrants with a low likelihood of getting approved for asylum until the processing of their application. This led to increased tensions between the CSU, who were generally in favour of these measures and threatened to leave the coalition without them, and the SPD, who opposed them; Merkel agreed to the measures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: Coalition split on transit zones |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-coalition-split-on-transit-zones/av-18824248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104013756/http://www.dw.com/en/germany-coalition-split-on-transit-zones/av-18824248 |archive-date=4 November 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |work=DW.COM}}</ref> The [[November 2015 Paris attacks]] prompted a reevaluation of the German government's stance on EU migration policy.<ref name="ParisAttacksMigrants">{{cite news |last1=Emric |first1=Eldar |last2=Nellas |first2=Demetri |date=14 November 2015 |title=Paris Attacks Provoke Fresh Migrant Fears in Europe |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/14/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-migrants-rising-tensions.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118052008/http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/14/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-migrants-rising-tensions.html |archive-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> While she did not directly limit the number of immigrants, Merkel tightened asylum policy in Germany, for example through more thorough vetting of migrants with respect to internal safety and security.<ref>{{cite news |author=Alison Smale |date=28 November 2015 |title=Merkel, While Refusing to Halt Migrant Influx, Works to Limit It |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/world/europe/merkel-whilerefusing-to-halt-migrant-influx-works-to-limit-it.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606021248/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/world/europe/merkel-whilerefusing-to-halt-migrant-influx-works-to-limit-it.html |archive-date=6 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="ParisAttacksMigrants" />

In August 2016, following the [[Würzburg train attack]] in Germany and various other Islamist [[List of Islamist terrorist attacks in 2016|terror attacks]] in Europe, Merkel's approval rating dropped to 47%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-585.html |date=4 August 2016 |title=ARD-Deutschlandtrend: Mehrheit gegen EU-Beitritt der Türkei |last=Ehni |first=Ellen |website=tagesschau.de |language=de-DE |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523163553/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-585.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Half of Germans did not want her to serve a fourth term in office, with only 42% in favour of another term in office.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Turner|first1=Zeke|last2=Fairless|first2=Tom|title=Half of Germans Oppose Fourth Term for Angela Merkel, Survey Finds|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/half-of-germans-oppose-fourth-term-for-angela-merkel-survey-finds-1472379679|access-date=29 August 2016|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=28 August 2016|archive-date=28 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828185015/http://www.wsj.com/articles/half-of-germans-oppose-fourth-term-for-angela-merkel-survey-finds-1472379679|url-status=live}}</ref> In a poll from October that year, her approval rating was found to have risen again; 54% of Germans were found to be satisfied with the work of Merkel as Chancellor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-651.html|first=Ellen|last=Ehni|title=ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Merkel überwindet ihr Tief|date=6 October 2016|publisher=ARD-tagesschau|language=de-DE|trans-title=ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Merkel overcomes her low point.|access-date=9 November 2016|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413113354/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-651.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to another poll taken in November 2016, 59% were to found to be in favour of a renewed Chancellorship candidature in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wn.de/Welt/Politik/2016/11/2594749-Forsa-Umfrage-Mehrheit-fuer-erneute-Kanzlerkandidatur-Merkels |agency=dpa |title=Forsa-Umfrage: Mehrheit für erneute Kanzlerkandidatur Merkels |newspaper=Westfälische Nachrichten |language=de-DE |trans-title=Forsa Poll: Majority for renewed chancellor candidature of Merkel |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518201319/https://www.wn.de/Welt/Politik/2016/11/2594749-Forsa-Umfrage-Mehrheit-fuer-erneute-Kanzlerkandidatur-Merkels |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to a poll carried out shortly after the [[2016 Berlin truck attack]], 56% of Germans named Merkel as a political leader they trusted to solve their country's problems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/inland/article209090001/Fluechtlingskrise-wird-2017-die-groesste-Herausforderung.html|title=Flüchtlingskrise wird 2017 die größte Herausforderung|last1=Gaugele|first1=Jochen|date=27 December 2016|last2=Kammholz|first2=Karsten|newspaper=Berliner Morgenpost|language=de-DE|trans-title=Refugee crisis to be biggest challenge in 2017|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423190451/https://www.morgenpost.de/politik/inland/article209090001/Fluechtlingskrise-wird-2017-die-groesste-Herausforderung.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Drehscheibe Köln-Bonn Airport - Ankunft Flüchtlinge 5. Oktober 2015-0308.jpg|thumb|Migrants in Germany, October 2015]]

In October 2016, Merkel travelled to [[Mali]] and [[Niger]]. The diplomatic visit took place to discuss how their governments could improve conditions which caused people to flee those countries and how illegal migration through and from these countries could be reduced.<ref name="Der Spiegel-2016">{{cite magazine |date=10 October 2016 |title=Hunderte Millionen gegen die Flucht |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/angela-merkel-in-niger-hunderte-millionen-gegen-die-flucht-a-1116005.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Der Spiegel]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012215938/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/angela-merkel-in-niger-hunderte-millionen-gegen-die-flucht-a-1116005.html |archive-date=12 October 2016 |access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>

The migrant crisis spurred right-wing electoral preferences across Germany with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining 12% of the vote in the [[2017 German federal election]]. These developments prompted debates over the reasons for increased right-wing populism in Germany. Some researchers have argued that increased right-wing preferences are a result of the European migrant crisis, particularly the increasingly common perception that refugees constitute an ethnic and cultural threat to Germany.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lucassen |first1=Geertje |last2=Lubbers |first2=Marcel |date=2012 |title=Who Fears What? Explaining Far-Right-Wing Preference in Europe by Distinguishing Perceived Cultural and Economic Threats |journal=Comparative Political Studies |volume=45 |issue=5 |doi=10.1177/0010414011427851 |s2cid=145071392 |issn = 0010-4140 }}</ref>

Some observers have described Merkel's policymaking with respect to the migrant crisis as a success.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=30 August 2020 |title=How Angela Merkel's great migrant gamble paid off |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/angela-merkel-great-migrant-gamble-paid-off |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101628/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/angela-merkel-great-migrant-gamble-paid-off |archive-date=4 June 2023 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> In 2022, the United Nations' [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|High Commissioner for Refugees]] granted Merkel the Nansen Award for her "courage and compassion" during the crisis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-German leader Angela Merkel wins UN refugee prize |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/4/ex-german-leader-angela-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/4/ex-german-leader-angela-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 October 2022 |title=Merkel wins UN refugee prize for 'courage and compassion' during migrant crisis |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221004-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize-for-courage-and-compassion-during-migrant-crisis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221004-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize-for-courage-and-compassion-during-migrant-crisis |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> However, Merkel has also faced significant criticism, particularly with regards to her policymaking early in the crisis, which some critics describe as hypocritically unilateral.<ref name="POLITICO-2018">{{Cite web |date=28 June 2018 |title=How Merkel broke the EU |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-broke-the-eu-migration-crisis-refugees/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref name="The Irish Times">{{Cite news |title=Merkel faces tide of criticism as asylum scandal overruns Germany |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-faces-tide-of-criticism-as-asylum-scandal-overruns-germany-1.3518383 |access-date=29 June 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |archive-date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604103935/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-faces-tide-of-criticism-as-asylum-scandal-overruns-germany-1.3518383 |url-status=live}}</ref>