What will Merkel's political path be like after the 'attack in Berlin'?

Experts also fear that the truck massacre in Berlin could be the "last straw" that ends Merkel's political career.

The attack occurred on the evening of February 19 when a truck suddenly plowed into a crowd at a crowded Christmas market. German police said the incident left at least 12 people dead and about 50 others injured. Police have not ruled out a terrorist attack, but there has been no official confirmation of this yet.

The truck that caused the attack on the night of December 19 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: AFP).

The incident has left many residents worried that the upcoming Christmas season may not be as peaceful as they had hoped. One Berlin resident shared: “I feel like there is no safe place for me and my family.”

The dangers lurk

Before the truck attack, Germany had been hit by a series of other attacks and attempted attacks across the country over the past year.

Last week, German police arrested a 12-year-old boy for plotting a bomb attack on a Christmas market in the city of Ludwigshafen.

Late last month, on November 30, a German intelligence officer was accused of being an “Islamist extremist” who was plotting an attack on the headquarters of the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Bundesverfassungsschutz (BfV).

Earlier, on October 9, a plot to bomb Berlin airport by a Syrian refugee named Jaber Albakr was foiled after counter-terrorism forces raided his apartment and discovered 1.5kg of explosives.

In particular, in July, Germany suffered three attacks that caused a stir in public opinion. On July 24, a suicide bombing near an outdoor music festival in the city of Ansbach injured 15 people. The perpetrator of the bombing was a refugee who declared allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

MDavid Ali Sonboly, an 18-year-old German of Iranian origin, opened fire in succession at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich on July 22. The incident left nine people dead. He then used the gun to end his own life at the scene.

Just days after the Munich shooting, on July 18, a 17-year-old refugee attacked passengers on a train in Bavaria with a knife and an axe, seriously injuring five people.

A series of attacks in 2016 have led to constant criticism of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her open-door policy towards immigrants.

It is known that on December 6, Ms. Merkel restarted her campaign for the position of German Chancellor. Experts say that this election campaign will certainly encounter many obstacles and difficulties.

Experts also fear that the suspected terrorist truck attack on a crowded Christmas market in Berlin could be the "last straw" that ends Merkel's political career.

Criticism poured on Mrs. Merkel

A year ago, in the midst of a skeptical Europe, Merkel made a “reverse decision” to open the door to welcome refugees into Germany. So far, thanks to this open policy, more than 1.1 million refugees have found food and shelter in a more peaceful and prosperous country.

At that time, people called her “the helmsman of Europe”, and believed that she was the one holding the solution to the refugee crisis that Europe was facing.

However, over the past year, a series of attacks have occurred in Europe in general and in Germany in particular, and people have begun to fear Ms. Merkel's policies.

After the truck attack, Marcus Pretzell, a member of the anti-immigrant AfD party, called Merkel’s policies “hypocritical.” He also harshly accused her of causing the deaths of German citizens.

Professor Anthony Glees of the University of Buckingham said that if this was a terrorist attack, and if the attacker was an “immigrant”, then Mrs Merkel would have to face huge consequences.

Professor Anthony Glees added that the German Chancellor will have to take personal responsibility for her open-door policy towards migrants.

Frauke Petry, a leader of the AfD party, said in frustration that Germany was no longer safe and that Merkel should have taken responsibility for telling the people this.

According to a poll conducted by the Infratest Dimap Institute in mid-2016, 47% of respondents were satisfied with Chancellor Merkel's work, and the number of people who supported her refugee policy dropped to just 34%.

Respond strongly to public opinion

Amid criticism and calls for her resignation that flooded social media, the 62-year-old German Chancellor said today was a difficult day for her.

The 62-year-old German Chancellor said today was a difficult day for her. (photo: EPA).

Mrs. Merkel canceled her election campaign trip to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and appeared on television on the morning of December 20 to reassure public opinion.

Angela Merkel said she was shocked and saddened by the news. “Many people have lost their lives, many are injured and are fighting for their lives, and my thoughts at this moment are with the deceased, the injured, their families, their friends and their loved ones,” she said.

Merkel added that if the incident was “terrorist”, it would be difficult to accept that the perpetrator had been granted asylum in Germany. The incident would have a psychological impact on all Germans who are trying every day to help refugees. It would also affect the image of other refugees.

“We do not want to let ourselves be paralyzed by terrorism. Things are difficult in these hours, but we will find the strength to continue living the life we ​​want in Germany, a life in freedom and openness,” Merkel stressed.

Still a strong candidate

Before the attack in Berlin, Ms. Merkel admitted in September this year her failure in immigration policy.

The German chancellor said she had tried to ensure that Germany's borders did not experience a repeat of the chaos of summer 2015, but that sometimes she could not control the situation completely.

Despite harsh criticism of Merkel’s immigration policies, observers say she is still a strong candidate for the next term as chancellor. She has been in charge of Europe’s largest economy for 11 consecutive years and has steered Germany through the financial crisis.

Under her leadership, Germany's reputation has also increased on the international stage, with efforts to resolve conflicts such as the Ukraine war and Greece's public debt. Forbes magazine voted her the third most powerful person in the world in 2016.

With the issues of terrorism and refugees, Ms. Merkel's political path will be more difficult. However, if Ms. Merkel can properly resolve the instability of refugees in the coming time, Germany will continue to have a talented female leader on the world political chessboard./.

According to VOV