Editorial: The New York Times

• In 2015, Angela Merkel, former chancellor of Germany, opened her country's doors to asylum seekers, garnering both bouquets and hoots.
• In 2021, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government ordered border controls to catch undocumented immigrants, extending them to new countries in September.
• This move sparked outrage in neighboring countries, who saw Germany as breaking European solidarity.
• Mass migration has become a major challenge of the 21st century fuelling far-right movements that capitalize on popular fears.
• In Germany, the public reaction was vast with 44% of respondents considering migration and refugees as the country’s most pressing problem.
• Merkel's decision in 2015 prompted the rise of AfD, a far-right party with a strongly anti-immigration and anti-Muslim stance.

Conclusion: Germany's handling of immigration issues has sparked discontent among its neighbours and fuelled the rise of right-wing parties. It demands a Europe-wide action to adequately address the migration issue.

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