Interior minister offers to resign, in blow to German coalition

[webfact]

Interior minister offers to resign, in blow to German coalition

By Jörn Poltz and Thomas Escritt

 

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer before the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, June 27, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

 

MUNICH/BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer offered his resignation to party colleagues late on Sunday, party officials said, escalating a row over migration with Chancellor Angela Merkel that threatens her fragile government.

 

Seehofer said he was ready to step down as minister and as chair of his Christian Social Union (CSU) at a meeting where his party's leadership was discussing whether to accept immigration proposals Merkel brought back from Brussels last week.

 

The move makes the future of Merkel's government even more uncertain, since her Christian Democrats party (CDU) relies on the Bavarian conservative CSU to maintain power through a coalition formed three months ago to end a political vacuum.

 

Merkel lost votes to the far-right in elections last September, and she has been forced to turn to European Union neighbours to help resolve the row over how to deal with migrants trying to enter the country.

 

Germany's political crisis is the latest sign of a growing divide across the EU between those who want to maintain open borders and those who want to restrict the number of migrants entering the bloc.

 

Seehofer, who has demanded that Merkel toughen her open-doors refugee policy, earlier told colleagues that in spite of the measures agreed with EU leaders, he saw no alternative to turning some migrants back at the border, a party source said.

Merkel rejects that idea.

 

CSU leaders, divided over how to face down a challenge from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) in October's regional election, were trying to persuade Seehofer to change his mind about resigning, the officials said.

 

Seehofer told party colleagues at an executive committee meeting that discussions with Merkel had been fruitless, according to a party source.

 

But others in the CSU have pointed to opinion polls showing that Bavarians have more sympathy for Merkel than for either Seehofer or Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder.

 

By appealing to migration hardliners in the CSU, they argue, the party could lose votes in the centre.

 

Earlier this week, EU leaders hammered out a deal to share out refugees on a voluntary basis and create "controlled centres" inside the European Union to process asylum requests.

 

Merkel said in an interview with ZDF television that the formal agreements and verbal commitments she had secured from her EU partners would have the migration-stemming effect the CSU wanted to achieve, but in a more European-minded fashion.

 

She reiterated her determination to act in way that was "not unilateral" and that was "not to the detriment of third parties".

 

POLITICAL COMMITMENTS

"The sum of all we've agreed is equivalent to what the CSU wants - that's my personal view, but the CSU must decide for themselves," she said.

 

"It is also sustainable and in accordance with the European ideal. Europe is slow, and we aren't yet where we want to be... In my view Europe will be held together, otherwise free movement could have been in danger," she added.

 

A document circulated by Merkel to coalition allies on Friday night outlined repatriation accords with 16 countries and proposed reception centres in Germany where migrants would undergo an accelerated asylum procedure -- steps that represent a significant hardening of her 2015 open-door asylum policy.

 

The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long sought to position himself as Merkel's nemesis in the immigration debate polarising the continent, later said they had signed no bilateral agreements.

 

In the interview, Merkel said she regretted any misunderstandings, but that she had been given "political commitments", and had not said any deals had been signed.

 

Volker Bouffier, premier of the state of Hessen and Merkel's close ally, said that the CSU should be pleased at what it had achieved so far as he arrived at a similarly protracted meeting of his and Merkel's CDU in Berlin.

 

"Europe has moved further than ever because of the CSU's pressure," he said.

 

While most analysts expect Merkel to survive the clash with the CSU, it is unlikely to be the last occasion on which the sister party seeks to distance itself from a chancellor it sees as too centrist for its own supporters.

 

But some in German political circles say that the row actually reflects Seehofer's longstanding rivalry with Soeder, who unseated him as Bavarian premier, accusing them of holding Germany hostage to a Bavarian issue.

 

"Seehofer, who has almost totally lost power in the CSU, now appears to want to bring down the chancellor in a kind of indirect political suicide ... ending his career under the motto: first me, then the party, and maybe then the country," wrote the Hannoversche Allgemeine newspaper in an editorial.

 

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer, Victoria Bryan and Tom Koerkemeier in Berlin and Agnieszka Barteczko in Warsaw, Editing by Robin Pomeroy, Raissa Kasolowsky, William Maclean and Mike Collett-White)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-02

 

[BuaBS]

Will we ever get rid of Merkel ?

[sweatalot]

Keeping the European borders open need not be the goal. Why don't they talk about closing the outer boarders and let the inner ones open? And then take out all the migrants, collect them in a camp outside Europe  to check  who is a real refugee and keep the gates open to those who want to leave to their home countries. May be even use the misguided rescue vessels to give them a free ride home.

[Sydebolle]

The writing on the wall, for years. Unless Merkel steps down and the Germans start saying what they really think there will be ignition of world war proportions. It went wrong twice already as history taught us. The Germans must be able to run their own country - themselves. 

1) Tell the Americans to withdraw all troops, unconditionally and immediately.

2) On May 21, 1949 the German Chancellor had to sign the "Chancellor File"; a documents regulating the Chancellor's "dos-and-donts" by the allied forces. Is a mandatory piece of paper signed by every chancellor (even Willy Brandt, who initially flatly refused to sign it). Nullify and void the Chancellor's File (Kanzlerakte)
3) introduce the democratic tool of a referendum for German voters (was abolished after 1945) 

Of course the cronies and crooks in Brussels don't want this and many other European Chief of Clowns have sleepless nights over that but let the Germans choose their own way. 
It will lead to the disintegration of the EU and the Euro and trillions of whatever currencies later Europe will have to find its way to what it was before; a kaleidoscope of culture, languages, currencies and cuisines with own laws, regulations and values. 

If not - then it is simply "bye bye Europe" for good and the camel she"*ç%"*çers will realize in less than generation from now, that they were the straw which broke the back of Europe in general and Germany in particular. No rocket science here! 

[Bundooman]

1 hour ago, BuaBS said:

Will we ever get rid of Merkel ?

I hope so. It is always, "Merkel this/Meckel that - as though she is the undisputed leader of the EU with that repugnant toad Juncker as her (also), unelected deputy Fuhrer!

 

I await with anticipation of the inevitable downfall of this insidious 4th Reisch!

 

Churchill would turn in his grave!

[maximillian]

1 hour ago, BuaBS said:

Will we ever get rid of Merkel ?

 

Hopefully soon.  But I see nobody who would make a real change there.

Ursula v.d.Leyen ?  She looks better, but is a bitch just like Angela. Oder P. Altmaier ?  Oh no...

[maximillian]

1 hour ago, sweatalot said:

Keeping the European borders open need not be the goal. Why don't they talk about closing the outer boarders and let the inner ones open? And then take out all the migrants, collect them in a camp outside Europe  to check  who is a real refugee and keep the gates open to those who want to leave to their home countries. May be even use the misguided rescue vessels to give them a free ride home.

 

...collect them in a camp outside Europe...

 

The biggest "camp" in Libanon was closed due to reducing the fundings to such a low level, the people were starving.

Stop the f...ing wars, the bombing, the drone killings, stop exploitation, get fair trade conditions with Africa.

144 bombs on these countries every day, then we are surprised the victims arriving in front of our doorsteps.

[Krataiboy]

2 hours ago, BuaBS said:

Will we ever get rid of Merkel ?

Not while she's doing the Elite's bidding. And if we do, they'll just find another stooge.

[Morch]

11 hours ago, maximillian said:

 

...collect them in a camp outside Europe...

 

The biggest "camp" in Libanon was closed due to reducing the fundings to such a low level, the people were starving.

Stop the f...ing wars, the bombing, the drone killings, stop exploitation, get fair trade conditions with Africa.

144 bombs on these countries every day, then we are surprised the victims arriving in front of our doorsteps.

 

"The biggest "camp" in Libanon was closed due to reducing the fundings to such a low level, the people were starving."

 

Eh?

[Morch]

10 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Not while she's doing the Elite's bidding. And if we do, they'll just find another stooge.

 

Them nasty elites are rather useful, who would posters blame otherwise...

[simple1]

8 hours ago, Morch said:

 

"The biggest "camp" in Libanon was closed due to reducing the fundings to such a low level, the people were starving."

 

Eh?

Previously it was identified by UNHCR the refugee population in Lebanon was grossly underfunded (from memory one pound per day p.p. (one of the contributing factors for mass movement into the EU prior to saving being exhausted). There has been references to starvation within the refugee communities, but don't recall starvation has led to deaths in Lebanon. e.g. from a 2016 article...

 

According to the U.N. children's agency, malnutrition is a major threat among millions of refugees. A UNICEF report last year showed that almost 2,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, and need immediate treatment to survive. It warned that situation could deteriorate even further as malnutrition is linked to such factors as poor hygiene, unsafe drinking water, lack of immunization, diseases and improper infant and young child feeding practices.

 

 

Edited July 2, 2018 by simple1

[maximillian]

10 hours ago, Morch said:

 

"The biggest "camp" in Libanon was closed due to reducing the fundings to such a low level, the people were starving."

 

Eh?

 

Eh ?  Strong argument, Mr. Morch.  Would you mind reading ?

https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-forced-make-deeper-cuts-food-assistance-syrian-refugees-due-lack-funding

1. July 2015 - AMMAN – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is being forced to implement deeper cuts in food assistance for vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan because of a severe lack of funding.

“Just when we thought things couldn’t get worse, we are forced yet again to make yet more cuts,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. “Refugees were already struggling to cope with what little we could provide.”

 

[Morch]

59 minutes ago, maximillian said:

 

Eh ?  Strong argument, Mr. Morch.  Would you mind reading ?

https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-forced-make-deeper-cuts-food-assistance-syrian-refugees-due-lack-funding

1. July 2015 - AMMAN – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is being forced to implement deeper cuts in food assistance for vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan because of a severe lack of funding.

“Just when we thought things couldn’t get worse, we are forced yet again to make yet more cuts,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. “Refugees were already struggling to cope with what little we could provide.”

 

 

There was no "argument" presented. There was no "mind reading" involved. How did you manage to infer either is beyond me. Your post alluded to (supposedly) the the biggest refugee camp in Lebanon being shut down due to lack of funds. Which camp would that be?

[maximillian]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

There was no "argument" presented. There was no "mind reading" involved. How did you manage to infer either is beyond me. Your post alluded to (supposedly) the the biggest refugee camp in Lebanon being shut down due to lack of funds. Which camp would that be?

Alright Mr. Morch, I'll correct and complete that sentense:

Would you please read following article ?  Mind you ?

https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-forced-make-deeper-cuts-food-assistance-syrian-refugees-due-lack-funding

[Krataiboy]

16 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Them nasty elites are rather useful, who would posters blame otherwise...

Now try answering your own question. You might surprise yourself.

[Morch]

2 hours ago, maximillian said:

Alright Mr. Morch, I'll correct and complete that sentense:

Would you please read following article ?  Mind you ?

https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-forced-make-deeper-cuts-food-assistance-syrian-refugees-due-lack-funding

 

That's the same article you linked previously. It does not mention any refugee camp shut down, as you originally claimed. What it does refer to is support for refugees living outside camps. May wish to take your own "advice".

[Morch]

12 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Now try answering your own question. You might surprise yourself.

 

I'm not into the scapegoat hunting fun, sorry.

[Krataiboy]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

I'm not into the scapegoat hunting fun, sorry.

Nor me. So where does the buck stop?

[thaibeachlovers]

It was great hearing that Merkel had to back down on immigration. Hopefully the beginning of the end for her. The next leader may be just as bad, but I just want to see Merkel given the order of the boot.

[simple1]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It was great hearing that Merkel had to back down on immigration. Hopefully the beginning of the end for her. The next leader may be just as bad, but I just want to see Merkel given the order of the boot.

Reality is Horst Seehofer backed down to reach a compromise solution. Merkel works hard to keep the positive principles of the EU in-place. Without Merkel the EU would be in a greater deal of strife than it is in today, especially considering the challenges facing Italy, Greece and Russian destablisation.

Edited July 3, 2018 by simple1