The approach to build a multicultural society has failed, and we don’t need immigrates who weigh down on our social system Mrs Merkel told a gathering of younger members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party on Saturday. Deciding, maybe recklessly, to join the overheated match which set supporters and opposers of the 16mlns of immigrants and foreign citizens living in the country, nowadays.
That being stated, Merkel uses the term multiculturalism as German word gastarbeiter which indicates the situation of foreign worker inspired to a simple laissez-faire. Until 90’s German migration policy was based on one principle: do not worry about immigrants they are going to come back to their home countries sooner or later. Things had gone in an other way. On the contrary, immigrants have not just set up in Germany but also their families have arrived. This exacerbates the contrast between the refuse by German society and the request of foreign workforce to running the engine of Europe. Resuming, economy wants but society doesn’t.
That being said, it seems that German Chancellor has discovered an obvious but brilliant solution to the problem: immigration is not a bed of roses, to use Charles De Gaulle words “ good immigrants are needed”.
Nothing new. Rather has to be understood why a Christian democrat leader, leading a country which is in a full economic recovery, where populist attitudes are definitely marginal, should make an unwise speech on a tricky issue.
The feeling is that Potsdam speech has been guided by last surveys and more in general by the politic wind blowing in a large parte of western Europe.
Last surveys as a matter of fact are clear: while CDU is on its historical minimum, discontent on immigration matters is crossing the country. According to a study, by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation think tank, more than one third (34.3 percent) of those surveyed believed Germany’s 16 million immigrants or people with foreign origins came to the country for the social benefits and more than one in 10 called for a “Führer” to run the country “with a strong hand.” Not to mention that Thilo Sarrazin controversial book is still one best seller in German bookshops.
More over, watching Mittel Europe politic map it is difficult to find a State where extremists parties are in decline. In the close Denmark far-right parties support the Government coalition. Perhaps is Angela Merkel getting worried about the dis-affection of the right side of her politic alignment?
It might be possible. Going on in this direction however, the Chancellor risks to provoke a deeper distance between the refuse showed by German society and the urgent request of foreign workforce: the ideal scene to foster every kind of neo-populism culture.
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