Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policies, including her open-border approach, green energy initiatives, and economic measures, have drawn widespread criticism for contributing to the country’s ongoing challenges.
Merkel’s recently published memoir, over 700 pages long, has sparked controversy even within her own Christian Democratic Party. The book, intended to “secure her crumbling legacy,” has instead been met with backlash. The Wall Street Journal reported that the release has backfired, riling even her most ardent supporters. Merkel’s refusal to acknowledge failures in her policies—such as allowing millions of Muslim refugees to resettle in Germany—has added to the outcry.
German broadcaster ARD summarized reactions to the book with the headline: “Much pride, little self-reflection.”
Critics, including members of her own party, hold Merkel directly responsible for Germany’s current political and economic struggles. Nico Lange, a former senior Merkel official, stated, “The publication of this unrepentant, self-righteous book at a time of economic and political turmoil like this is hurting [her party].”
Merkel’s approval ratings, once high during her tenure, have plummeted. The report indicates that both domestic and international allies have distanced themselves from her.
In a particularly contentious section of her memoir, Merkel defended her decision to allow millions of refugees into Germany, claiming it was “fully irrelevant whether they had a right to stay in Germany or not.” She went on to attribute the resulting issues—such as failed integration, increased welfare costs, rising crime, and political polarization—partly to what she described as the German people’s lack of a “will to change.”
Since the implementation of Merkel’s open-door policy, immigration has significantly altered Germany’s societal and political landscape. Approximately 400,000 immigrants, equivalent to the population of a large German city, have entered annually, with refugee-related expenditures now matching Germany’s defense budget.
The report also noted that Merkel’s oft-repeated justification for her policies—that there was “no alternative”—inspired the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD, now Germany’s second-largest political party, continues to gain momentum as discontent grows over Merkel’s legacy.
