Merkel Criticized for Immigrant Voting Remarks

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing backlash for encouraging immigrants in Germany to vote against the populist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel, who played a crucial role in Europe’s migration crisis in 2015 by opening EU borders to many migrants from the Middle East and Africa, has sparked debate over her intentions with her latest comments.

In a recent interview with Jagoda Marinic from Hessian Radio, Merkel urged German immigrants—many of whom she helped bring to the country—to reject their political rights and oppose the AfD.

“We want people with a migration background to be part of our community. It’s important not to fragment our political strength against the AfD,” she stated.

She added, “It doesn’t matter how long someone has been a citizen, whether for two years or for generations. We are all German citizens and need to unite against those who envision a completely different future for our country.”

Merkel’s comments drew sharp criticism from AfD leader Alice Weidel, whose party has become the largest single party in Germany, only trailing the center-right Christian Democratic Party (CDU). In the recent election results, the CDU and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union (CSU), led the AfD by a narrow margin.

Weidel responded by accusing Merkel of causing significant harm to Germany through her policies. “She’s calling on naturalized citizens to not support the AfD, further dividing our country,” she stated.

Naomi Seibt, an activist critical of immigration, remarked on Merkel’s interview, saying, “She’s openly aligning immigrants with the left against a popular party. It’s as if she’s trying to suppress the voice of many who feel differently.”

Despite facing numerous criticisms during her tenure—from handling the migration crisis poorly to undermining Germany’s military and energy infrastructure—Merkel was recently awarded the European Union’s Order of Merit for her contributions to European integration.

This award sparked further debate, as many questioned the value of her contributions given her controversial decisions while in office.