German Chancellor Angela Merkel has become Europe’s moral voice during the refugee crisis that has seen over 710,000 people fleeing war, violence and poverty arrive at the European Union’s borders so far this year. In a press conference in late August, Merkel said, “If Europe fails on the question of refugees, if this close link with universal civil rights is broken, then it won’t be the Europe we wished for.”
In a speech last month to the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, Merkel re-emphasized her moral view of the worst refugee crisis since World War II—and Germany’s ability to meet its challenges. “Who—if not we—has the strength to do so?”
While praised by many Germans, Merkel’s open-door policy to refugees—including her announcement in August that all Syrian refugees would be eligible to claim asylum in Germany—represents a detour from her usual wait-and-see approach to other European issues. Merkel’s refugee response came out of necessity. “Migrants will come anyway, Merkel may as well spin it in a positive way,” explains Julian Rappold, a program officer at the German Council on Foreign Relations.