Angela Merkel admits mistakes on refugee issue

(Baonghean.vn) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 19 took responsibility for her defeat in the Berlin election on September 18, and admitted her mistakes in handling the refugee crisis in 2015.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a self-criticism speech on September 19. Photo: AP

On September 18, the two major political parties in the German government, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), suffered what was considered the worst election result in their history in the vote in Berlin, while the two left-wing parties, Die Linke and afD, achieved impressive results.

Later, in a self-criticism speech on September 19, the German chancellor said she had "fought" to ensure that the chaos at Germany's borders that occurred in 2015 did not repeat itself, but that sometimes the situation was not entirely under control. "No one wants a repeat of last year, including me," Merkel said.

However, Ms. Merkel did not change her decision to open the border to thousands of refugees stranded at Keleti station in Budapest in late September 2015. Ms. Merkel admitted that the mistake was due to her and her government not being quick enough to prepare for the large-scale migration from the Middle East. Speaking to the press, Ms. Merkel said: "I wish I could turn back time."

Ms Merkel also admitted that in the past she had not been specific about her refugee policy, and that the phrase "Wir schaffen das" (meaning "We will manage") had "provoked" some people who did not agree with her political ideology.

Ms Merkel also rejected calls by the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) for a "maximum limit" on the number of refugees that can be accepted into Germany in 2016, saying it "would not solve the problem". Ms Merkel said banning immigrants from entering Germany on the basis of their religion would be inconsistent with the German constitution and the "moral foundations" of her own party.

Thanh Hien

(According to Guardian)