Angela Merkel Stepping Down
The Christian Democratic Party (CDU-Germany) suffered disastrous losses is state elections yesterday, leading to an unexpected announcement by Angela Merkel, that she will step down as the Party leader.
How do you think this will impact the European Union and the world?I'm glad to hear that. I think she's made missteps in choosing courses of action without giving fair regard to the problems which will crop up, attempting to hide problems as they cropped up and then ignoring fair concerns of citizens as they do.
I have no idea how it will affect the world or the EU. I simply hope her absence will create unity and harmony in Germany.Angela Merkel will be in charge until 2021. According to a German person I know all the problems associated with Germany accepting so many Muslim refugees is what made the country swing against her and her party. In this country, we don't see all of the problems came to Germany because of this move. So, I believe Germany will move more toward the right. The Euro is down against the dollar so there are economic worries as well.
I believe this portends to a continued shift to Nationalism, and particularly the desire for strong borders, the preservations of social/cultural norms, and the rejection of the 'borderless' globalization efforts.
If Germany's new leader shifts away from supporting the intake of millions of refugees that the EU (unelected) leadership has forced and that the UN is making 'international law' then the effort to flood the European continent with non-Europeans may soon come to an end.
Poland, Hungary, Italy, and others have already closed their borders to any non-European migrants, if Germany joins their ranks that will mean the country that was taking in the most, will now be taking in none, leaving nations like England and France to continue, the leadership of those countries pay no attention to what their citizens demand anyways, just look at Brexit and how that didn't happen.
Its only a delay, a necessary delay for todays world, but in the future when technology has advanced a bit further, and these countries have committed to a Social Credit system like China is committed to now, it will become inevitable.
In another decade or so, such an effort at a borderless world will have far more success.In my opinion Angela Merkel did some good things and some bad things. As every politician does.
A strong point was that she was pro Europe. And today the last thing Europe needs is a strong nationalism in every country. It can break Europe up.
The extreme right is supported by Steve Bannon as he sees it as a way to break Europe. Russia too wants a broken Europe.
This is logical as Europe is both for the US and Russia a strong block. For them it's easier to bully small nations to their will then a powerful block like Europe.
Nationalism is narrow minded politics as we live in a global market economy. Like America First is a false promise. Cars, computers, phones. Lots of machinery are assembled in different countries and travel the world over before it is available in a shop to buy.
As climate change is progressing, immigration will also take flight. Immigration is a normal thing. American citizens have European blood, or slave blood. And nobody is pure German, Spanish or American.
Nevertheless the foreigner and the refugee is often used as a scapegoat in politics.
As everybody knows Germany has a terrible history with Nationalism and scapegoats. Seen through this history I think it's only a good thing that Angela Merkel tried her best to take in as many refugees as it could. Many rich countries could have done more but didn't because of political cowardliness.
Angela Merkel was a strong leader, and although I did not like it one bit how she (as a part of the Troyka) handled the Greek crisis. I do admire hear toughness and European mindset.
As after Brexit (the most stupid move ever made by English parliament) Europe needs strong leaders. Hopefully Germany will keep it cool and not slight backwards to an extreme-right wing movement.Looks to me, from what is said in this thread, that Germany (and England) is learning from the EU what the US did from the UN. Government is in the business of redistributing wealth today, and they will take from those that have it. The US is treated as an endless supply of money and military; Germany is treated as an unending place to stuff unwanted immigrants.
When all countries are of approximately the same level of wealth in the hands of it's people, then is the time for world government (or the EU). Don't hold your breath for it, though.
- Ed Fisherposted 5 years ago
0Do not mistake the same definitions between a European Union and something like NATO , one union is a good one and one bad .
A European Union of the spreading of Socialism is what is being regurgitated , is it not ?Hi Ed,
No the European Union is not spreading Socialism.
Angela Merkel was head of the German centre-right Party, the Christian Democratic Union.
The majority of the parties in the European parliament is Center Right/Conservative/Peoples Party or Right wing.
European politics is not that black and white. There are a lot of nuances between the most leftist group and the most rightist group.
Merkel is stepping down as leader of her party, but remains German Chancellor for another two (I think) years.
The European project is failing. The Euro is under pressure. Italy is railing against EU demands to re-do its budget. Youth unemployment is spiraling and immigration is causing so many problems throughout.
Merkel, herself, welcomed unlimited immigration with open arms, completely negating the Dublin Agreement which means that refugees must apply for asylum in the first safe country they reach. She has caused problems for all EU countries, not least the UK, which is a magnet to young male immigrants because of what they perceive is a generous welfare system.
She was also a recipient of the Coudenhove Kalergi Award in 2010, which is given to leaders who promote the ideology of integration. Ever-closer-union. In other words, the aim is to set the EU up as a great big melting pot with individual sovereignty and cultures wiped out. Importing vast numbers of refugees is just one tactic to make it happen.Could you please tell me where you got your statistics from?
As the youth unemployment is getting less.
compared with 20.3% in 2015, 18,7 in 2016 and 16.8 at 2017.
The Euro is far stronger then the Pound which dropped considerably after the Brexit vote.
As with the refugees. You can not have the burden of thousands of refugees on the shoulders of Greece, Italy and Spain, (the countries where they arrive on boat) alone.
The number of asylum seekers coming to the EU is declining. In 2015 it was at it's peek about 1.257.610 in 2017 it's 651.250 so it's reduced to a half.
Half of the asylum seekers is accepted. so we talk about 300.000 people.
Knowing that Europe counts 500 million citizens the percentage of asylum seekers is rather small.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistic … %29_T1.png
That would be what they want you to believe.
I have no idea where your overall numbers for migration have come from, but based on two of the harder hit countries (see below), they don't appear to be accurate. I imagine for the EU in total, the numbers are far in excess of what you believe them to be.
Sweden
In 2013 immigration reached its highest level since records began, with 115,845 people migrating to Sweden.
It continued to rise steadily the following years, with just over 163,000 persons immigrating in total during 2017.
The percentage inhabitants with a non-European foreign background in Sweden had risen to 24.1% as of 2017.
If Sweden averaged more than 125,000 from 2013 to 2017, a 5 year span, they have taken in over 625,000 immigrants.
The numbers can be confirmed from official documentation, anyone there illegally or unofficially is uncounted, making the unofficial (real) number probably thousands higher. This is a huge percentage of their population for a country with under 10 million people.
Germany
Germany records largest influx of immigrants in 2015
https://www.dw.com/en/two-million-germa … a-19131436
"Net migration of foreign people amounted to 1.14 million. This is the highest net immigration of foreigners ever recorded in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany," said a statement from the statistics office.
The figure marks a 49-percent increase compared to 2014, which witnessed a net migration of 577,000 people.
Once this became a hot topic political matter, and people began rejecting the 'open border' 'welcome all migrants' policies, 'official' numbers started getting curbed back to smaller and smaller numbers...
1.2 million in a 2015 count became 890 thousand in 2016.
The IMF (International Monetary Fund) which advised the EU to expect between 1.2 to 1.3 million people yearly (15,16,17,18) went mum on the matter by 2016.
I admit, I don't really pay much attention to the matter in general, as I do not live in Europe, its not something I have worried about.Hi Ken,
Numbers can be a bit tricky.
I was talking about Asylum seekers/ refugees and got my numbers from a dutch organization who are helping refugees.
But refugees are only a part of the immigrants as a citizen from the US or Japan in the EU is also an immigrant..
https://translate.google.com/translate? … ing-europa
If you ask me personally. I think the immigration question is as usual always used by politics to scare people. And to gain votes.
The strange thing is that in general the people who are scared about foreigners are those who hardly know any. People living in villages. People living in the bigger cities tend to be more tolerant towards different identities and nationalities.
I don't worry to much about immigration either. I'm an immigrant myself. Born in Holland and living in Spain. So I understand the choices some people make to try to find a better life somewhere else.You might not worry about immigration, or rather the refugees situation, but the white girls who have been attacked and gang raped recently in Germany probably won't agree with you.
Incidentally, I didn't post any statistics in my previous post. Youth unemployment is still a problem throughout Europe. The Euro is struggling. I didn't compare it with sterling, which was already artificially inflated pre Brexit vote. Post referendum, UK exports increased exponentially due to the lower value pound.
Having seen boatloads of refugees landing on Spanish beaches and then all the young males disappearing into the sand dunes, I don't think anyone can refer to accurate statistics, because there are none.Uff. in the first paragraph you describe all refugees as rapists. If I go for personal experience, all of my friends who underwent the terrible experience of rape, were raped by "full blood" Dutch or English citizens.
To combine a rape case with all the refugees is completely under the belt and a dangerous accusation.
Youth unemployment. Have you seen my link. It shows clearly that it was a problem but is not a problem any more. The UK shows more or less the same figures. Both Europe and the UK recovered from the global crisis which caused the youth unemployment.
I hope for all my friends living in England the UK it will survive Brexit. (but personally I think the UK will be eaten alive by the US and China, as it is a to small a country to make good business deals with these huge markets.)
My wife who is a Londoner asked for a Dutch passport as otherwise she has to ask for a visa every time she is going to work in Holland. And tax will be a nightmare to sort out.
The Sterling dropped dramatically after the Brexit vote and has not recovered. This was a direct result of the vote.
The Euro true is struggling, it sounds dramatic. But in a hectic world market with a US-China trade war and a Brexit coming it is doing rather well.
I live near Valencia where a boat of refugees came, and I have not noticed any difference before the arrival of the refugees or after. crime or otherwise..
"disappearing into the sand dunes..." - Common, you are not talking about tens of thousands of men running away in the sand dunes, are you?
Most of the immigrants in Spain are English by the way. And to my personal experience, most of them don't learn the language properly (if at all) and do not emerge with the Spanish society. Yes, they take a beer in the pub and eat a paella. But often they do not even great in Spanish but say Hello and Bye.
Before I moved to Spain I watched East Enders, and I didn't believe the characters were real. Now I know better, There are a lot of Mitchells in Spain. Even worse then East Enders sometimes. English people with a low education who are scared to learn a language as they have never learned a foreign language at school. Should Europe throw them out?
No, of course not. They found a live for themselves, probably better then what they could get in England. There is nothing wrong with people trying to improve their way of living. Don't we all.Firstly, I did not describe all refugees as rapists. That's a typical losing argument to try and twist someone's words into something they did not say or imply. However, the 'visitors'' ideology (as illustrated by the recent prosecutions of mass sex offenders in UK cities) indicates that white girls and women are viewed as fair game.
Quilliam's researchers found 264 people have been convicted for the specific crime of gang grooming since 2005, and of those offenders 222 or 84% were Asian.
https://news.sky.com/story/grooming-gan … s-11164589
EU Youth unemployment as at May 2018 = 15.1% UK = 11.5
https://www.statista.com/statistics/266 … countries/
Google images for "refugees boats landing in spain".
British immigrants take their money with them. Refugees (or economic migrants to give them the correct term) bring nothing. Not even a willingness to integrate. Most of the Spanish landings will result in more waves of people (men) arriving at Calais and other French ports trying to hitch a ride on a lorry to get to the UK. Google 'illegal migrants at calais' if you don't believe me.
Also, the UK has guaranteed the rights of any EU national to remain in country. Whereas, the EU haven't reciprocated as yet.
Brexit is a good thing. Don't you worry your head about it. The Brits are a lot tougher than you give us credit for. And stop talking about 'English'. England is only one of four countries that make up the UK.
If you want to throw out the 'Mitchells', go ahead. Or your adopted country can keep taking their money.Hi theraggededge,
If I read the first paragraph wrongly then you should be more carful with the connections you make. As you combine a rape case with all refugees. It's a dangerous and insinuating paragraph.
You refer to the grooming gang text as an argument to be afraid of refugees. Please don't mix things up. As the 84% of the offenders where not refugees but Pakistani. And to my knowledge Pakistan was a colony of Britain and are residents in the UK for generations. They are not immigrants nor refugees.
Secondly, something you didn't quote from the article was that 100% of child sex offenders in paedophile rings were white. So there you go with the connection of race and rape.
About the youth unemployment. There are some countries who are definitely not doing great like Greece, Spain and Portugal. But there are other European countries who are doing better then the UK. Like The Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Hungry to name a few. Look at the URL.
But you have to compare the unemployment numbers with the last couple of years and then you see that the numbers are decreasing.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistic … %29_T1.png
Uff, the Brexit thing.
Understand that, at the moment, thanks to Europe the UK has a lot of "contracts" with other nations. These agreements, about grain, steel, fishery, consumer goods etc. have to be made all over again with all countries (and not just EU countries, but also countries that had an agreement with the EU and thus with the UK). To make all these new agreements with all countries separately takes time (at least 2 years if you are dealing with a friendly nation)
In the meantime the UK has no agreements and thus will pay more for it's incoming goods and export. And the question is if it will get better deals now the UK is a smaller world player.
Secondly. To study abroad will become far more difficult and more expensive. So that's a bummer for the kids who want to study languages or want to work abroad for a year (or two)
Practical. In Spain the Brits can now use the benefits of free healthcare, thanks to their European citizenship. What will happen after Brexit?
All those pensioners will have a hell of a time finding a private insurance. Probably the UK will strike a deal with Spain, but at what cost? Why should Spain pay the healthcare bills of all the pensioners?
Companies are already talking with other countries to move their headquarters. Banks are making preparations to move to New York or Hongkong.
And there is so much more...
If you think Brexit is a good thing, and you get your "independence" back. Think again. As the UK is not such a big country, not compared with China,the US, Russia and Europe. It will be dominated by these markets.
I know the Brits, and they are not tougher or weaker then any other people. This is just a nationalistic propaganda myth.
I wish you well, and I really hope the Brexit will work out for the ordinary man on the street. I hope you are right as I do not wish Britain a crisis.
And I hope the NHS will not be privatized as the UK will be pressured to do so from the outside. ("US: You will have a great grain deal with us if we can have a chunk of the NHS"--- not a surrealistic thing.)
Again, I don't wish you a terrible time, not at all. I have a lot of great friends living in London. But I'm not optimistic at all about Brexit (British understatement...)
Your misunderstanding of the Brexit issues is plain to see. Never mind. Time will tell.
I did not say that refugees are running grooming gangs, I said their ideology promotes the idea that white girls are fair game. And used the example of the grooming gangs who share that very ideology. Do read what I write more carefully, and stop changing my words in that creative manner you have. Either address the point as I made it, or ignore it. Don't twist the argument to suit your perspective.
So you have gangs of immigrants (with their ideology and opinions of non-muslim women) running wild in European countries doing this:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl … rimes.html
And disappearing into the sand dunes of Spain, like this:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-euro … SKBN1KH1W6
I'm pretty sure I didn't mention paedophile rings, which are just as despicable. That's a whole other topic that I really don't want to get into, and is not apropos to the discussion.
The thread is about Angela Merkel stepping down, and the failure of her policies thus far. As demonstrated clearly by the rise of AfD in Germany and the continuing unknown numbers of illegal immigrants heading into Europe.
Oh and don't keep mixing up legal immigration with illegal immigration. It makes no sense.
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