What is the issue?
- Rightist groups are gaining ground in German politics, through direct electoral support and through exerting ideological influence on mainstream parties.
- But for the time being, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s politicking has averted any threat to her coalition government.
How did Ms. Merkel’s political brinkmanship help her win allies?
- Angela Merkel is now in her 4th term as German Chancellor, and has weathered many crises without jeopardising the stability of her government.
- The 2017 German election was inconclusive with no party gaining a majority due to the erosion of votes by smaller extremist parties.
- Merkel’s long time ally “Social Democratic Party” (SPD) was also refusing to support her government and preferred sitting in the opposition.
- But eventually, SDP revived the coalition with Ms. Merkel’s conservative “Christian Democratic Union” (CDU) in order to avert another poll.
- Thereby, Ms. Merkel managed to have her way and stood her ground with her moderate political outlook.
How did she handle the current crisis?
- Refugee Policy – Ms. Merkel is the most vocal proponent of open borders within the “European Union” and is presently the linchpin of grouping.
- But this policy also entails refugees to enter Germany even though they might have registered themselves (as refugees) in another European country.
- Many politicians (including among the ruling alliance) sought to plug this influx and also send those already in Germany to the countries of registration.
- The issue threatened to end 70-year alliance of Merkel’s CDU with Bavaria based “Christian Social Union” (CSU).
- Compromise - Ms. Merkel asserted that curtailing entry would undermine the European Block’s cherished “Schengen Passport-free Zone”.
- To assuage the dissenting voices, she proposed to accommodate those seeking refuge at transit centres along the borders with Austria.
- As Ms. Merkel has agreed to send them back to the countries of registration eventually, this is a partial victory for those demanding tighter borders.
- But nonetheless, Ms. Merkel has been holding strong in her endeavour to preserve the integrity of Euro-Zone.
What are the implications?
- The recent compromise is a further dilution of Ms. Merkel’s bold 2015 move to allow about a million refugees into Germany.
- Notably, refugee flow has actually been declining since 2016, and the current political unrest was caused due to approaching elections in Bavaria Province.
- This is a clear indication of Germany’s major mainstream parties facing pressures from smaller rightist groups, like in many other European countries.
- On the other hand, the reality of mass immigration today calls for a concerted approach on conflict resolution and respect for the rule of law.
Source: The Hindu
