Merkel stands firm on migrant policy
BERLIN: Migrant policy requires a European solution, German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted yesterday, ceding no ground in a showdown with her Bavarian allies that threatens her threemonthold coalition government.
The row is over Merkel’s rejection of plans by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, from Bavaria, for Germany unilaterally to send back migrants who have registered in other European Union countries.
Such a reversal of her 2015 opendoor migrant policy would be a huge blow to the authority of Merkel, in power for more than 12 years, and would undermine the Schengen openborder system at a time when EU tensions over migration are running high.
In her weekly podcast, three days before talks between Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, the chancellor hammered home her stance.
‘‘This is a European challenge that also needs a European solution. And I view this issue as decisive for keeping Europe together,’’ she said.
Merkel wants two weeks to try to strike bilateral deals with partners, such as Italy and Greece, on migrants and to make progress at a June 2829 EU summit on an EUwide policy.
Seehofer’s Christian Social Union (CSU), facing a tough state vote in October, does not want to wait. Members say the minister will defy Merkel today if no compromise has been reached by then, and go ahead with the plans alone.
Such an affront to Merkel could force her to fire Seehofer, and there is even talk of the end of the 70year conservative parliamentary alliance between Bavaria and Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU).
Without the CSU, the CDU and Social Democrats (SPD) would lack a majority.
Merkel also said Germany and France would try to give new momentum to EU cooperation on foreign, defence and security policy and on further developing the economic and currency union. — Reuters