Ten years since the immigration surge in Germany, visible impacts persist
Germany, a country known for its open-armed approach to refugees, is currently experiencing a political shift to the right. The Christian Democrats (CDU), one of the country's major political parties, has been moving towards more conservative stances on immigration, a departure from the centrist approach championed by Angela Merkel.
The political shift became evident after the 2015 refugee crisis, when an estimated 800,000 refugees, primarily displaced by conflict in Syria and surrounding countries, were expected to arrive. The CDU-led government, since then, has made efforts to tighten Germany's borders, block and deport asylum-seekers, and target policies that benefit highly-integrated immigrants.
However, the CDU's stance on immigration contrasts with the significant contributions refugees and immigrants have made to Germany's economy. According to the Institute for Employment Research of the Federal Employment Agency (IAB), approximately 730,000 workers were added to the workforce as a result of the influx of refugees. Last year, 64 percent of the working-age refugees who arrived in 2015 were employed.
Despite these contributions, the CDU has not made a significant effort to highlight the positive impact of immigrants on the country. This is in stark contrast to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has used the massive influx of foreign refugees as a political goldmine, often bashing refugees to gain support.
The AfD's anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, seems to be losing ground. Numerous recent polls disagree with the CDU's political shift to the right, suggesting that the AfD might be gaining support. This trend is concerning for the CDU, as figures like Friedrich Merz have shifted the party towards the right in recent years, advocating for tougher asylum laws and positioning the CDU more conservatively on social issues.
Angela Merkel, who made a famous statement on August 31st, 2015, saying "Wir schaffen das" ('We can do it'), maintains that Germany's efforts in handling the refugee crisis have been largely successful. She believes that her decision to welcome a historic number of asylum seekers was the right thing to do.
The cultural contributions of immigrants are also undeniable. From Turkish-German hip-hop, movies, and music, immigrants have enriched Germany's cultural landscape. Despite this, many people in Germany might agree that ridding the country of immigrants would be a huge loss, even AfD voters who enjoy DΓΆner.
As Germany heads towards a national election in February 2021, the CDU's campaign emphasizes a "Migration turnaround". Whether this shift will resonate with voters remains to be seen. The CDU's approach to refugees and immigrants is a critical issue in the upcoming election, with the potential to significantly impact the country's social and economic fabric.
