It has been ten years since German Chancellor Angela Merkel made her famous “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”) statement regarding her decision to accept hundreds of thousands of refugees into Germany.
In an interview with the public broadcaster ARD that will be featured in a documentary airing Monday, Merkel reflected on her decision, which she said was guided by humanitarian principles and human dignity.
“It is a process. But so far, we have achieved a lot,” Merkel said. “And what still needs to be done must continue to be done,” she added.
The 2015 statement came at a time when 800,000 refugees were expected to arrive in Germany that year, many fleeing the brutal civil war in Syria. Merkel acknowledged the scale of the challenge and expressed surprise at how often her words were criticized.
Despite the controversy, Merkel said she did not believe Germany was overwhelmed.
“It was clear to me that this would be something truly challenging,” Merkel said.
She emphasized that the alternative — using force to prevent refugees from entering Germany — was never an option. “I would never have been willing to do that,” Merkel stated.
Looking back, the former chancellor stands by her decision as morally necessary, while acknowledging that integrating such a large number of refugees remains a significant challenge for Germany.
Merkel acknowledged that her decision contributed to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“This certainly made the AfD stronger,” Merkel said, adding that this could not be a reason to avoid making the decision she determined was correct and within reason.
