Migrants are to blame for the “nightmare” of gang rapes, according to Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU).
Several recent statements from the CDU indicate that the party is becoming more reality-orientated. The governing party, the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), also sees the writing on the wall and is introducing passport control at all borders.
The justification is a sharp increase in serious crime, including terrorism, carried out by new arrivals.
In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, migrants were responsible for nearly 4 out of 5 gang rapes in 2023, according to the state’s interior minister Herbert Reul (CDU).
Even Angela Merkel, the great heroine of all migrants, said as early as 2010 that multiculturalism was a failed project.
In 2015, Europe was flooded with migrants as a result of the civil war in Syria. Millions of migrants, far from just Syrians, took advantage of the situation and moved towards Europe.
I’ve read that Merkel first wanted to stop the flood, and asked her military advisers what was required. When the officers replied that they might have to open fire, Merkel lashed out, declaring: Wir Schaffen Das.
All of Europe is now paying the price.
Merz is concerned about the ongoing state elections, where the anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has attracted many voters, particularly in the state of Thuringia. Now more state elections await. In this regard, Merz said:
– On average, there are two gang rapes a day, and well over half of these are committed by migrants.
<Merz, who is likely to run against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in next year’s Bundestag elections, has sharpened his sting against migrants following the terrorist attack in Solingen a fortnight ago.
Syrian terrorist Issa Al H. (26) shouted the customary Allahu akbar during the attack in which three people lost their lives.
Merz urged the chancellor to stop accepting more arrivals from Syria and Afghanistan, where most migrants to Germany originate.
This week he gave Scholz a deadline of Tuesday next week to go on his collar, saying he would otherwise withdraw from the cross-party talks on the issue.
Merz also wants Germany to copy the UK’s plans (now shelved by the Labour government) to send migrants to Rwanda.
Aligned with AfD?
AfD is attracting more and more voters, which mainly affects the SPD, but also the CDU. Speculation is therefore rife that Merz’s statements are an attempt to win back some of the lost votes. It could also be a signal that the CDU is opening up for co-operation with the AfD.
This kind of co-operation could be tested in a state like Thuringia, for example. Then we can gain experience and see if the collaboration is fruitful, and possibly consider co-operation at federal level.
This is only speculation, of course, but we have already seen that unthinkable partnerships have been forced, such as in Sweden, where the Sweden Democrats support the centre-right government.
Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, goes to the polls on 22 September. AfD leads the polls with 27 per cent, ahead of SPD (23 per cent) and CDU (18 per cent).
Merz sought to distinguish his position from that of the AfD by emphasising that “the vast majority” of migrants are “wonderful people” that the country “couldn’t do without”.
Of course, the majority of migrants are law-abiding, and some of them are even able to support themselves after a few years. However, this does not help those who are victims of stabbings, rape or terrorist attacks.
But as a result of the AfD’s growth, Merz has tried to distance himself from Merkel’s legacy. Under Merkel, Germany saw as many as 10,000 migrants cross the border daily. Merz has said it would be “unforgivable to make the same mistake twice” on the migration issue.
Germany is on the move, both when it comes to migrant issues and climate issues. If Germany changes its policy, this will affect the whole of Europe, so it’s important to keep an eye on this.