Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cautioned against the potential damage to the European Union and the Schengen Area following Poland’s announcement of increased border controls with its own personnel. Speaking in Schwerin at an event hosted by ARD, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland and Ostsee-Zeitung on Tuesday evening, Merkel expressed concern regarding the functionality of the Schengen system.
While acknowledging that border controls can be necessary in temporary situations, Merkel emphasized that they should not undermine the principle of free movement. She stressed the importance of a European-wide approach to the complex issue of migration.
Addressing accusations that her own migration policies contributed to the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Merkel firmly rejected the claim. She argued that the government’s decisions on refugee policy should not be interpreted as a justification for fostering hostility towards others, stating that it would be inappropriate to become “xenophobic” as a result.
Merkel sharply criticized the AfD, accusing the party of attempting to divide society and stoking resentment. She asserted that the AfD’s tactics of categorizing citizens into “elites” and “others” and then inciting hatred between these groups posed a threat to the foundations of German democracy.
Furthermore, Merkel addressed the AfD’s attempts to appropriate the slogan “Wir sind das Volk” (“We are the people”), originally used during the final phase of the East German regime. She countered by stating that “the people” encompass all citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, including herself and that she would not allow her place in that collective to be usurped.