[By Guancha Observer Network, Xiong Chaoyi] On May 25 local time, former German Chancellor Merkel attended the "Southwest Press Forum" held in Nuernberg with her autobiography "Freedom". During her speech, she warned that implementing stricter national immigration and border control policies could have catastrophic consequences for the EU. Previously, Berlin had taken actions to curb the influx of asylum seekers.

According to reports by "Russia Today" (RT), when asked about the latest measures taken by the cabinet led by current German Chancellor Scholz, Merkel said: "I don't believe we can effectively crack down on illegal immigrants at the German-Austrian or German-Polish borders... I have always advocated European-level solutions."

Earlier this month, Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt introduced a new policy prohibiting asylum applications at all land borders in Germany, marking a sharp reversal of Merkel's government's stance on opening borders in 2015. Only children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups are eligible for exceptions.

According to Merkel, she believes that this move threatens the freedom of movement within the EU and the integrity of the Schengen Area (which allows visa-free travel across most of the EU). She insisted that any immigration and tourism reform should be agreed upon at the EU level. "Otherwise, we may see Europe destroyed," she warned.

File photo of former German Chancellor Merkel

It was reported that Merkel's open-door policy in 2015 faced fierce political backlash, with critics calling it "disastrous," as over one million immigrants were allowed into Germany during the peak of the refugee crisis from 2015 to 2016.

Currently, Germany remains the largest destination for asylum seekers in the EU. According to EU statistics, Germany received more than 237,000 asylum applications in 2023, accounting for approximately one-fourth of the total in the EU.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has seen a surge in public support recently, known for its hardline "anti-immigration" stance. In February, ahead of the election campaign, Merkel, then the CDU's candidate for chancellor and chairman, promised to strengthen border controls.

In the latest federal parliamentary (lower house) election held on February 26, the AfD eventually secured 20.8% of the vote and came second, but was excluded from coalition talks by mainstream parties.

On May 2 local time, Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution designated the AfD as an extreme right-wing organization posing a threat to democracy and the constitutional order. The office stated in a declaration that after three years of investigation, they found the AfD held xenophobic positions.

According to German law, designating the AfD as an "extreme right-wing organization" by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution grants the government greater authority to monitor the party's activities, but does not automatically lead to legal sanctions or a ban on the party. RT reported that although this designation has been temporarily suspended due to legal challenges and public protests, senior figures in the political circle, including members of the ruling coalition, are seeking legal grounds to push for an official ban on the AfD.

This week, German police warned that due to increasing pressure on personnel deployed at the borders, the enforcement of the new regulations issued by Scholz's government may only last for "several weeks." Despite the deployment of an additional 3,000 police officers to support the 11,000 already stationed at major border crossings, this predicament has yet to be alleviated.

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7508572694917546546/

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