2LT International News

BERLIN, Germany – A conflict of ideology over illegal immigration, that threatened to topple German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fragile governing coalition and brought the seven decade long alliance between the country’s top two political parties on the brink of collapse, was resolved late on Monday. 

With members of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU) and Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) hitting a roadblock in negotiations, the country’s Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who is also the leader of CSU, threatened to resign. 

The clash over migration not only put Merkel in a precarious state, but also threatened to push the country back into a political deadlock, from which it emerged in March this year. 

After five long months of uncertainty, Germany’s political deadlock ended with a fourth term for Merkel after the closely-watched and highly debated postal vote of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) returned a majority backing for another grand coalition in Berlin.

The vote paved the way for the third grand coalition since 2005, between SPD, Merkel’s centre-right CDU and her Bavarian CSU allies.

However, even though Merkel continued to remain in power after nearly 13 yeas in office, the leader, who was once lauded for becoming the first woman and the first easterner to run a reunified Germany, emerged from the five month long deadlock, more weaker than she has even been.

In months that followed, even though she tried to emerge from her spectacular decline, which was triggered almost entirely by her decision to welcome more than a million undocumented migration into the country in 2015 and 2016, she continued to face challenges, both at the national and international level.

Faced with a once trusted ally turning rogue and launching unpredictable and punishing tariffs on German products, Merkel tried hard to deliver as one of Europe’s most powerful leaders.

Back home, the battle over immigration returned with a vengeance, challenging her seat of power and the ideology she has fiercely defended over the last few years.

Merkel found her fragile coalition threatened last month, over a standoff on immigration policy, that quickly spiraled into a deep political rift with the potential to unseat her.

Merkel, who wanted the country to adhere to EU rules and maintain its commitment to the principles of freedom movement within the bloc, was challenged by her rebellious Bavarian interior minister, Seehofer, who sought tighter immigration controls.

The conflict, which became the latest of several rows over migration between the two parties, blew up late on Sunday, after leaders emerged from an eight hour long meeting, that ended with no resolution to the policy standoff.  

On Monday morning, as Merkel struggled to keep her fragile coalition and her long run as chancellor intact, Seehofer dangled the threat of resigning, only to backtrack a few hours later.

Seehofer then issued his second ultimatum to Merkel, on creating a hard border with Austria to stem the flow of migrants.

The first indication of a possible compromise deal came later on Monday, when both the leaders held a spontaneous meeting with the president of the German Parliament Wolfgang Schauble, who is one of the most senior members of the conservative bloc.

Five hours later, Merkel and Seehofer emerged from the meeting with cautious smiles, and declared that the conflict had been settled. 

Touting talks as being largely harmonious, both the leaders seemingly managed to save their 70-year-old alliance.

Addressing reporters outside CDU’s Berlin headquarters late on Monday, Seehofer said that his party had agreed to a deal with Merkel’s CDU and confirmed that that he would remain in his post.

Seehofer hailed the deal as achieving his vow of stemming illegal immigration through the implementation of tighter immigration controls.

At the same time, the compromise deal also meant that Merkel would be able to say that Germany remains committed to the principles of freedom movement.

Seehofer told reporters, “After intensive discussions between the CDU and CSU we have reached an agreement on how we can in future prevent illegal immigration on the border between Germany and Austria.”

Merkel meanwhile declared, “The spirit of partnership in the European Union is preserved and at the same time an important step to order (has been taken).”

CDU’s general secretary Annagret Kramp-Karrenbauer later outlined the deal and said that migrants who have already applied for asylum in other European Union countries will now be held in transit centres on the border while Germany negotiates bilateral deals for their return.

According to officials, the transit centres, which would be like ‘airside’ zones in international airports, will be regarded for immigration purposes as not being in Germany, which would make it easier to deport people from them.

Yet, even though Merkel managed to hang on to power, the last minute deal came as a spectacular turnabout for a leader, who was once seen as the standard-bearer of the liberal European order.

While the deal diminished Seehofer’s resolve and political standing only slightly – considering that he backtracked on his threat to resign – the compromise caused a bigger damage for Merkel.

Experts pointed out that Merkel’s willingness to compromise on an issue that is set to define her legacy, is the most telling sign of her waning position as one of Europe’s most powerful leaders.

The woman, who has dominated European politics for almost 13 years and was celebrated for over a decade for bringing about the post-1989 world order, faced one of history’s most dramatic declines in 2015 for her controversial decision to open up German border for immigrants.  

Her decision paved the way for nationalism and populism to make a comeback in a country that has long tried to escape the shadows of its past. 

The impact of that decision was so deep, that last year, the anti-immigrant far right managed to gain ground and nudged the entire political spectrum rightward.

The crisis in Germany also emerged as the latest sign of the EU-wide divide between those who want to maintain open borders and those who want to restrict the number of migrants entering the bloc.