‘She declared war on own people’: Merkel vows to stick to open door policy, faces online uproar
Germany’s online community has been in a furor since Chancellor Merkel said she will still stick to an open door policy for refugees, maintaining Germany is still “safe,” despite the recent deadly attacks there, most of which were committed by migrants.
Merkel acknowledged at a news briefing on Thursday that Islamists could use the refugee flow to infiltrate Germany. She also admitted that even a “powerful country” like Germany “cannot take so many refugees in the long term.”
Yet, at the same time, she made it clear there will be no U-turn in the state’s policies with regard to migrants. Dealing with the flood of refugees is a “historic task” Merkel said, while reiterated that Germany “will make it.” She also stressed that “lot’s has already been done,” echoing arguments she had made in previous speeches.
Germans hit back at Merkel’s “we can make it” line by posting statements such as “unfortunately we cannot ask the victims of the recent attacks whether they see it exactly the same way."
Germany has faced five deadly assaults in just over a week. Three were committed by asylum seekers, and two of those are being investigated for links to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISSI/ISIL).
Voicing their frustration, people wrote “We can make it” should be declared a “taboo word.”
While acknowledging that more security was probably needed in Germany at Tuesday’s press conference, Merkel also declared that the country is still “extremely safe.” That raised quite a few eyebrows with the social media community as well.
Get rid of this traitor #MerkelMussWeg#Rapefugees#deutschlandpic.twitter.com/lbJHTDNejc
— Chris (@truclear) July 27, 2016
One particular tweet read "who still says 'We can make it' after what’s happening in Germany right now, this person can’t be helped."
Germany’s chancellor stressed that it was important to follow democratic “principles” while dealing with the refugee crisis, but people pointed out that “immigrants neither share nor understand these principles Mrs Merkel.”
The online outrage with Merkel’s position has even led Germans to call for their leader to be forced out, with some even urging “Get rid of this traitor.”
“So easy for #Merkel to repeat #WirSchaffenDas [We can make it]. She’s well protected. Make that awful woman resign,” a tweet read.
Merkel, who interrupted her vacation for the latest briefing, was questioned over her late reaction to the deadly July 22 attack in Munich, where nine people died. It took the leader twenty four hours to extend her condolences to the victims’ families.
When asked why there had been such a delay and why she hadn’t visited the site of this or any other attack, Merkel maintained that she had acted correctly.
“That’s a question that I obviously ask myself whenever something happens. I will be at the memorial ceremony in Munich on Sunday,” she said
“A decision has to be taken on this each time and perhaps some members of the public have a different view to the way I decided to do things,” she added.
Merkel’s absence in the aftermath of the Munich attack inspired the trending hashtag “Wo Ist Merkel” (Where is Merkel) and “Merkel Is Hiding” on Twitter.
I suggest #WECANMAKEIT be the #taboo word of the year
Ich schlage #Wirschaffendas zum #Unwort des Jahres vor.
— Experte für Alles (@Puretruth678) July 28, 2016
It is unbelievable: “WE CAN MAKE IT?” Mrs. Merkel & Co.: WE cannot make it!
Es ist unfassbar, "WIR SCHAFFEN DAS"? Frau Merkel & Co.:
— Cafe-antique (@ladymichi222) July 28, 2016
WIR schaffen das nicht! Unsere Kinder sind NIRGENDWO... https://t.co/gUXss6tig0
#Merkle says “We can make it.” Unfortunately we cannot ask the victims of the recent attacks whether they see it exactly the same way.
#Merkel sagt "Wir schaffen das".
— Halbfinne (@halbfinne) July 28, 2016
Die Opfer der bisherigen Anschläge können wir leider nicht mehr fragen, ob sie das auch so sehen ☹️
Who still says “We can make it” after what’s happening in Germany right now; this person is beyond help
wer nach allem,was derzeit in #Deutschland passiert
— Jochen A. Hübener (@POLITJAH) July 28, 2016
noch sagt
"Wir schaffen das"
dem ist nicht mehr zu helfen#Merkel#Gnade uns allen #Gott