GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned immigrants to “integrate or face consequences” in a last desperate bid to gain support for her crisis-stricken coalition as she attempts to cling to power.
And now the 63-year-old has lashed out at critics, admitting she would react “the same way again” if a similar crisis erupted.
The open-door policy weakened her support and saw voters turn to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party in the September elections.
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Merkel does not want to risk losing any more voters to the AfD
Speaking at her annual party conference, Mrs Merkel said: “Misguided tolerance is as dangerous to our cohesion as populist incitement against anything foreign.
“Integration requires well defined underlying values ad clear and noticeable consequences for those who refuse integration.”
“Those who use hateful slogans will meet our determined resistance.”
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Merkel has sparked protests across Germany due to her immigration policy
Mrs Merkel’s future now rests with the SPD members who will be deciding whether to approve the coalition deal in an internal referendum.
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Merkel is hoping to remain in power for her fourth term as chancellor
In their place, Mrs Merkel welcomed her biggest critic Jens Spahn as health minister in the next Cabinet to quell party rebellion.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was selected as the party’s new general secretary after party delegates approved another governing coalition.
