Internal differences between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and some of her ministers are now obvious to everybody, the article said.
Stratfor wrote that the attempts of German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere to tighten refugee policy without informing the Chancellor are a messy step and may indicate a hidden power struggle among the German ministers. Moreover, they point to a much deeper problem, which could undermine the credibility of Merkel’s government and have massive implications for the whole Europe.
“The ongoing refugee crisis has overwhelmed Merkel. The German chancellor is famous for her ability to sense the direction of public opinion and adjust her policies accordingly. This time, though, many think she may have miscalculated,” the publication said.
When refugees started flooding Germany in the summer 2015, Merkel said that her country will accept them with “open arms and open borders.” At that time, Germans backed her decision, which they saw as a chance to demonstrate solidarity for those in need, the article said.
However, when the refugee crisis intensified, Germans started to become anxious about the fact that the government probably miscalculated the true scale of the crisis and its consequences.
“Suddenly, Merkel was no longer the infallible leader who could do no wrong but an impulsive head of government who had put her country in danger,” the article said.
The division in the ruling coalition may have longstanding negative implications for the country and Europe as a whole. Even though the option of Merkel’s resignation now seems to be too unrealistic, the fighting in her inner political circles may negatively affect the efficiency of the government and undermine her positions.
“Elections in several German regions in 2016 will test the popularity of the parties within Merkel's coalition, and the outcome will affect their calculations about seeking early elections. Should the CDU perform poorly, party members will probably start planning for a future without Merkel,” the publication said.
