[noemon]

Angela Merkel is under intense pressure to tighten Germany’s refugee policies or risk the collapse of her coalition government.

A row with her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, over whether refugees who arrive at Germany’s borders should be turned back escalated on Wednesday night as the two held talks for two and a half hours and concluded with no agreement.

The German chancellor is said to have urged Seehofer to wait until an EU meeting in two weeks’ time at which she would seek an agreement with other European leaders. But Seehofer is reported to have told her that as the EU had failed to forge a common policy since the refugee crisis erupted three summers ago, it was hardly credible to think it would succeed by the end of the month.

A Bundestag session was interrupted for two hours on Thursday morning so that Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the CSU, to which Seehofer belongs, could hold separate emergency meetings. The Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in the coalition, also withdrew for talks.

Tensions on the right wing of Merkel’s CDU have also been growing, and there are signs that support for her within the party has dwindled over the issue.

The SPD and opposition politicians have accused Seehofer, a former leader of Bavaria, where the majority of refugees have entered Germany, of putting the interests of his southern state before EU cohesion.

The CSU faces a state election in October in which it is desperate to stave off the challenge of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has been eating away at its support. Party consensus is that it needs to appear firm on the issue of immigration.

Seehofer’s main demand is that asylum seekers should be turned back at the German border if it is established that they entered the EU in another country or if they have already applied for asylum in Germany and had their applications turned down.

Merkel has said it would be illegal for Germany to take such a unilateral step and it would damage attempts to shape a comprehensive EU migration policy. She is reported to have told Seehofer and Bavaria’s minister president, Markus Söder, she was prepared to compromise by striking bilateral agreements with the EU countries most affected by new arrivals, including Italy and Greece, but it is understood they turned that idea down.

Merkel and Seehofer have been increasingly at loggerheads over the refugee issue. Political observers say Merkel may rue the day she gave the nod to Seehofer’s appointment as interior minister. Seehofer promptly renamed himself Heimat, or homeland minister, a provocative move as the word was hijacked by the Nazi party to promote loyalty and the need to protect to the death of German values, and has not shaken off that connotation.

Having been weakened in the polls, Merkel had little choice but to award the ministerial to the CSU, but it is looking increasingly likely that the decision could bring about her downfall.

Seehofer’s decision to back out of attending an integration summit in Berlin on Wednesday only increased the tension. He went on to hold a meeting with Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, after which the two announced an “axis of the willing” between Austria, Germany and Italy to reduce illegal immigration.

The extraordinary move was seen as a deliberate shunning of Merkel and an outright rejection of her ideas on migration policy, particularly as she had reportedly not been informed about the announcement. It is also highly unusual for bilateral meetings to take place between government members of differing ranks, such as a leader and an interior minister, and the much-publicised episode contributed to making Merkel look increasingly isolated.

According to polls, 65% of Germans reject Merkel’s stance on migration and would like to see tighter controls at Germany’s borders.

The Guardian

[Beren]

At first I thought it was the Social Democrats, but no, it's the Bavarian brother party. I wouldn't mind if Hungary left the V4 and joined Bavaria and Austria instead if we could become "civilised Europeans" that way.

[Atlantis]

You forgot this one:



The four of them make an impenetrable bulwark. I don't know why Merkel doesn't just let them. It would take a lot of problems off her plate.

[Beren]

You forgot this one:

They don't have common pictures with Orban yet. But don't worry, it will go down to Greece and Italy in this thread anyway.

I don't know why Merkel doesn't just let them.

She may listen to Soros too much.

[Atlantis]

They don't have common pictures with Orban yet. But don't worry, it will go down to Greece and Italy in this thread anyway.

I can't wait

She may listen to Soros too much.

She doesn't need Soros to be a convinced globalist.

[Decky]

It would be nice if the right finally got kicked of of government in Germany, Merkel and the CDU (Christian Democrats, the main right wing party in Germany) have controlled the Chancellorship for way too long.

[noir]

Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented attack on Angela Merkel’s government, tweeting that “the people of Germany are turning against their leadership as migration is rocking the already tenuous Berlin coalition”.

In his latest tweet, Trump said “crime in Germany is way up”.

In a second tweet, Trump noted:

[Kaiserschmarrn]

At first I thought it was the Social Democrats, but no, it's the Bavarian brother party. I wouldn't mind if Hungary left the V4 and joined Bavaria and Austria instead if we could become "civilised Europeans" that way.

They would make a great team, although I don't see why Hungary would have to leave the V4. All V4 countries would probably make good partners and there are other candidates as well.

Not sure I understand the last part of your post though. Aren't you Hungarian?

Edit:

Seehofer promptly renamed himself Heimat, or homeland minister, a provocative move as the word was hijacked by the Nazi party to promote loyalty and the need to protect to the death of German values, and has not shaken off that connotation.

No Guardian writer can pass up the opportunity to make a Nazi reference.

Another edit:
Probably to be taken with a grain of salt:

[hartmut]

Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented attack on Angela Merkel’s government, tweeting that “the people of Germany are turning against their leadership as migration is rocking the already tenuous Berlin coalition”.

In his latest tweet, Trump said “crime in Germany is way up”.

In a second tweet, Trump noted:

That is indeed "an unprecedented attack", based on lies and obnoxious short conclusions to rally discrimination.
He is a liar and a fire monger, as spreading lies and scapegoating of others is the mystery of his unexpected success.
That's hard to overlook, and we must face the very new fact, that an US-President is an enemy of Europe.
And an enemy of all what US defended in Europe in former times .

[noir]

EU oligarchs are enemies of Europe.

[Private Hudson]

The main reason why Angela Merkel ist still chancellor of germany is the media in germany.

The media in germany is left. And when I say left, I mean radical left!

They have no fear to lie. If there are any problems due to mass migration, they dont talk or write about it. Everybody, who is critical, is attacked immediately by the media.

Germany is dead! When they loose the automotive industry, which is attacked by the left too, the country will fall.

[fokker]

Situation in some elementary schools in Vienna, Austria is quite bad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGaSAv6nxtQ (video is in German). In Germany it is reportedly the same. In some schools there are simply too few German speaking pupils (as parents send their children elsewhere), very little if no integration, children putting Islam before education, uncooperative parents. Quality of education is dropping.

I don't think Germany can do anything about it. Austria at least has government that can try something. Germany will get there in 30 years until there is generational change and it will be too late by then. People in V4 countries do not believe Germany can fix its problems, it will continue to get worse. We may see Germans returning to Czech republic and Poland to their historically inhabited areas.

[Decky]

The main reason why Angela Merkel ist still chancellor of germany is the media in germany.

The media in germany is left. And when I say left, I mean radical left!

They have no fear to lie. If there are any problems due to mass migration, they dont talk or write about it. Everybody, who is critical, is attacked immediately by the media.

Germany is dead! When they loose the automotive industry, which is attacked by the left too, the country will fall.

Angela Mekel is head of the Christian Democratic Union, the main centre right political party in Germany.

[Private Hudson]

Angela Mekel is head of the Christian Democratic Union, the main centre right political party in Germany.

Good joke, dude. The Christian Democratic Union today has nothing to do with the CDU 20 years ago!

The main supporters of Merkels politics are the parties from the radical left.

The Christian Democratic Union is not right at all today.

The simple proof for this is the politics of Angela Merkel and the CDU.

1. Taxes rised to new records.
2. Migration rised to new records.
3. Nuclear power plants and coal mines will be closed.
4. There is no economic government. Socialism is Merkels answer for everything.
5. The car industry is under attack and Merkel is responsible for bans of cars in cities and expropriation.
6. Merkel is dealing with redistribution of income to euro states.
7. The army was broken.
8. Marriage for all.
...

That has nothing to do with right-wing politics! It is left-wing politics. It is radical left-wing politics!

In the US its called socialism and communism!

[fuser]

So a typical center-right party got it.

[Decky]

Good joke, dude. The Christian Democratic Union today has nothing to do with the CDU 20 years ago!

The main supporters of Merkels politics are the parties from the radical left.

The radical left support Die Linke.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_(Germany)

The Left (German: Die Linke), also commonly referred to as the Left Party (German: die Linkspartei, pronounced [diː ˈlɪŋkspaʁˌtaɪ̯] (About this sound listen)), is a democratic socialist[2][3] political party in Germany. It is considered to be left-wing populist[4] by some researchers. The party was founded in 2007 as the merger of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and the Electoral Alternative for Labour and Social Justice (WASG).[18]

1. Taxes rised to new records.

Like most right wing governments, they need more money for all their mental wars and other right wing waste. Fiscal conservativism is a myth, the centre right spend money like drunken sailors.

2. Migration rised to new records.

That's what happens in right wing countries, look at the US, that was founded on mass immigration. The capitalists ask for more workers for their businesses and the right provides them. Mass immigration keeps wages low and makes unions weak, the right love it.

3. Nuclear power plants and coal mines will be closed.

The left is pro nuclear power, have you not heard of the Soviet Union? Closing coal mines is a standard right wing policy, have you never heard of Margret Thatcher? It is the left who want coal mine open as miners are mostly socialists.

4. There is no economic government. Socialism is Merkels answer for everything.

I am afraid English my only language, I don't understand what you are saying here.

5. The car industry is under attack and Merkel is responsible for bans of cars in cities and expropriation.

Germany has not banned cars.

6. Merkel is dealing with redistribution of income to euro states.

The EU is a centre right body, the left is against the EU even existing.

7. The army was broken.

That was the doing of the right, if they hadn't started 2 world wars maybe the world would be more comfortable with Germany having a proper military.

8. Marriage for all.

I thought the right were all for marriage and all the family bollocks? Most left wingers I know want state recognized marriage abolished.

[AFAIK]

Maybe the confusion comes from the names political parties use. The UK Conservative party supports traditional British industries like mining and manufacturing and opposes new fangled foreign ideas like nuclear power, fracking and high-speed rail. Oh wait, it's the opposite!

[Negotiator]

Crime is of course not up in Germany, but just reached a record low.

You can of course feel free to doubt the official statistics, but thats what it says.

The radical left support Die Linke.
The left is pro nuclear power [...]
The EU is a centre right body, the left is against the EU even existing.

You really should stop reading Wikipedia as a source of information for politics, especially about the left. They are far from neutral.

To many people in Germany, Die Linke is already part of the establishment. Especially anyone even remotely qualifying for "radical left" is very likely to oppose them.

The left in Germany has founded the green party, just like really any other industrialized country. The green party and the organizations linked to it was initially very strong. Due to the protest of the Germans there never was too much nuclear power in Germany, compared to for example France which heftily relies on it. Nowadays though the green party couldnt care less about this; politically they have moved from the left to the right, though theres still a lot of individuals among its followers who are leftwing.

The left is for internationalization, thus a project like the EU is very welcome. However the practical politics of Merkel and others have destroyed the support of the population for the EU. And the far right, such as Orban, is opposing the EU anyway. Ironically not without receiving a lot of benefits from being part of the EU.

Most left wingers I know want state recognized marriage abolished.

Marriage is a human right. No left wingers I know - and I know plenty, being one myself - opposes marriage. In my case not very surprising, since I'm a christian.

[Decky]

The left is for internationalization, thus a project like the EU is very welcome.

The EU is an inherently centre right project. No left winger could possibly support the EU existing. Even the United States of America is not as right wing as the EU. The EU is simply Hitler's dream made flesh, one European government where the rules are made in Berlin and the left are locked out of power forever.

https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/artic ... t-policies

The European Single Market is a major barrier to any incoming socialist or anti-austerity government.

The capitalist establishment across Europe is wedded to privatisation and austerity. And it can rely on Single Market treaties and EU law to impede nationalisation and state investment while ramping up privatisation.

The 2009 Lisbon Treaty is the legal framework that applies to all Single Market member states.

Article 120 of the treaty requires member states to "act in accordance with the principle of an open market economy with free competition" - compulsory Thatcherite economics.

Articles 107-9 bar member states from government aid "which distorts or threatens to distort competition." This is designed to block substantial public investment.

Labour proposed a £35 billion subsidy to save 4,000 jobs at Port Talbot and prevent the death of domestic steel making. But this would distort competition, and so could breach the treaty.

While socialists would promote nationalisation rather than subsidy, a Corbyn-led government would fall foul of EU law if it wished to prevent sudden closures and redundancies through state support.

The unelected European Commission ordered the Belgian government to claw back €211 million in subsidies given to (unsuccessfully) prevent the collapse of steel group Duferco. The Commission declared the aid "illegal."

Nationalisation
Articles 101-6 of the Lisbon Treaty require that "services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly" be subject to competition.

This is designed to severely limit nationalisation, and compliance generally requires breaking up and selling off what publicly owned industries are left.

It's the right of the market to rule. Large-scale nationalisation in banking, utilities or public transport, and many major national investment programmes, would breach the treaty.

Some argue that Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto does not pledge full-scale nationalisation, but partial nationalisation, which EU judges might decide does not fall foul of the treaty. Still, full-scale nationalisation is what is needed.

But in any case, competition rules mean that even if, for example, the rail industry was only part-nationalised - leaving many of the profiteers in place - it would have to be open to "free competition." Investing in better infrastructure, more staff and cheaper fares on the state routes would undermine private companies' competitiveness and so breach the treaty.

'EU directives' - laws written by the European Commission and rubber-stamped by the almost powerless European Parliament - also apply to Single Market members.

For instance, the 1991 First Railway Directive requires that member states "guarantee that railway undertakings are afforded a status of independent operators behaving in a commercial manner and adapting to market needs."

Any one nationalised rail company would come up against this. Increasing numbers of private rail companies operate even in France, a country incorrectly given by some as a model of public ownership within the Single Market.

Large-scale nationalisation would breach the Lisbon Treaty. Small-scale nationalisation would have to comply with competition laws which make it ineffective, or breach the Lisbon Treaty. Big state subsidies to save or create jobs would breach the Lisbon Treaty.

There are some exceptions. And there are some cases which can be ambiguous.

But both are decided in the European Court of Justice by wealthy judges, drawn mainly from the ruling classes, "in accordance with the principle of an open market economy with free competition." Unsurprisingly they have a record of deciding that ultimately private profit trumps workers' interests.

So any anti-austerity or socialist government would face a choice. Stay in the Single Market and capitulate on its policies - like Syriza in Greece - a catastrophe for the working class. Or defy EU and Single Market diktats and implement policies in the interests of the working class.

That's why we must oppose Britain's membership.

Marriage is a human right. No left wingers I know - and I know plenty, being one myself - opposes marriage. In my case not very surprising, since I'm a christian.

I will help you.

Most left wingers I know want state recognized marriage abolished.

I do not oppose marriage. I simply don't see why the government needs to involve itself with it.

[fokker]

The EU is simply Hitler's dream made flesh, one European government where the rules are made in Berlin and the left are locked out of power forever.

It wasn't just Hitlers dream, it was dream of Germany since the beginning of 20th century. To somehow control many European countries and restrict their sovereignty. European borders in early 21th century especially in the east are similar to what Central Powers wanted - a significantly weakened Russia and many smaller states like Belarus, Baltics, Ukraine. Britain only managed to delay the project by meddling into WW1 and helping to defeat Germany. Without Britain, it would have happened sooner. This time unlike 100 years ago France is more reasonable and knows its interests are better fulfilled by being in bloc with Germany rather than Britain. Now Britain got sidelined after Brexit, leaving Germany and France to rule the EU. Britain has also bad relations with Russia, having no allies in Europe. Unlike in early 20th century, its in a very bad position, despite "winning" wars.

Soon there will be 100 year anniversary of the end of WW1. What will Britain celebrate?