Germany’s Social Democratic (SPD) leader Martin Schulz warned Sunday that another wave of uncontrolled immigration could hit the country if it fails to act.
Schulz accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of ignoring the refugee issue during her campaign to secure a fourth term in office in September’s general election. Schulz, who has fallen far behind Merkel in polls, argued he’s better prepared to lead when the next migrant crisis strikes the country.
“In 2015 more than 1 million refugees came to Germany, mostly without government monitoring,” Schulz told Bild in an interview published Sunday. “The chancellor opened our border with Austria for humanitarian reasons but unfortunately without consulting our partners in Europe. If we don’t act now, that situation could repeat itself.”
Andreas Scheuer, the general secretary of Merkel’s allies the Christian Social Union, called Schulz “untrustworthy and dubious” for criticizing Merkel when his party has opposed measures to cut the migrant influx in the past.
“More deportations, more secure countries of origin, border controls and transits — SPD and Martin Schulz have blocked all this forcefully,” Scheuer said, according to Die Welt.
CDU leader Horst Seehofer told Welt that the government has to acknowledge that the migrant crisis will continue with more and more people attempting to cross the Mediterranean sea from Africa.
“Right now the situation is quiet,” Seehofer said. “But we all know: the migration wave will continue.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.