Angela Merkel was a progressive hero when she allowed over a million Syrian refugees into Germany, but now she has to make some changes.
Merkel is calling for a burqa ban wherever “legally possible”. This is a complete 180 in some people’s eyes, but she is facing incredible backlash from her citizens after the decision to welcome the refugees in such large numbers.
Merkel welcomed the Syrian refugees last year, and now she is saying the full Islamic veil known as a burka or burqa is “not appropriate” in the Germany anymore.
The German leader also said that there would not be a repeat of last year’s influx of immigrants.
“A situation like the one in the late summer of 2015 cannot, should not and must not be repeated.”
The decision is coming as a shock to some, but not to the citizens of Germany.
Merkel is running for another two-year term and she needs to win back some favor in her country as the leader of the Conservative party. One way to get the people back on her side is to do a burqa ban.
Despite a surge in sex crimes near migrant camps, and a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, Merkel’s motivation seems to be politically motivated.
The burqa ban may or may not work at stopping some of the violence, but as a political move, it will help her numbers greatly.
Merkel has seen her approval-rating peak at 74% in the spring of 2015, and then she let in almost a million refugees in the same year. Her numbers dropped significantly.
By the end of 2015 she was at 52%. In 2016 her low reached 46% and now is hovering around 50%.
She needs to find a way back into the spotlight and she feels that a burqa ban is the way to do it. We’ll see if she is right.
Do you think Merkel’s burka ban will help her get re-elected? Let us know in the comments below.