Angela Merkel ditches open-door migrant policy to save coalition government, skepticism remains
- 6 years ago
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reached a deal on immigration, saving a potential break up of her four-month-old coalition government.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had threatened to resign if Merkel didn't stop migrants who applied for asylum in other EU nations.
He eventually dropped his threat after Merkel agreed to tighten control along the Austrian border.
However, the deal drew skepticism on Tuesday from her center-left Social Democrat partners, who said more talks and work were needed.
The key sticking point is a plan to set up transit centers - facilities where migrants will be held until they can be deported to the EU country they first registered in.
The SDP is opposed to these centers and without its consent Merkel and Seehofer's agreement remains in limbo.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had threatened to resign if Merkel didn't stop migrants who applied for asylum in other EU nations.
He eventually dropped his threat after Merkel agreed to tighten control along the Austrian border.
However, the deal drew skepticism on Tuesday from her center-left Social Democrat partners, who said more talks and work were needed.
The key sticking point is a plan to set up transit centers - facilities where migrants will be held until they can be deported to the EU country they first registered in.
The SDP is opposed to these centers and without its consent Merkel and Seehofer's agreement remains in limbo.