Berlin – Ten years after her famous line “We can do this,” former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing firmly by her decisions. In a public interview with Der Spiegel in front of nearly 1,700 people, she reflected on the 2015 refugee crisis, her approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and her experiences with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We Can Do This” Still Her Message
Merkel made it clear she does not regret opening Germany’s doors to hundreds of thousands of migrants. “I was guided by the motivation to help people in need, which is in line with our values,” the former chancellor stated.
Asked if she would do anything differently, Merkel responded firmly: “Overall, I don’t know what should have been done differently.” To critics demanding a harsher approach, she replied: “Do we treat people with dignity, or do we use water cannons on them?”
Integration With Successes and Challenges
Merkel admitted that some refugees caused problems, including security concerns, but she emphasized the positive results: many newcomers successfully integrated into the labor market. “They are doing everything possible to help this country – as doctors, as workers,” she noted.
According to Rheinische Post, the employment rate among male refugees who arrived in 2015 is now nearly the same as that of German citizens. Most migrants at the time came from war-torn Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as African nations such as Nigeria and Eritrea. In total, Germany granted asylum to around 440,000 people.
No Cooperation With the AfD
Merkel drew a clear line against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). She stressed there could be no cooperation – neither for her own CDU/CSU party nor for German politics as a whole. The AfD gained significant support during the migration crisis and remains one of Merkel’s sharpest critics.
Strong Words on Putin, Clear Distance From Trump
Turning to foreign policy, Merkel described her long-standing differences with Vladimir Putin. While Putin once called the collapse of the Soviet Union “the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century,” Merkel said for her it was “the greatest joy of my life.”
On the war in Ukraine, she was blunt: “Against Putin’s aggression, military strength is necessary.”
Asked about former U.S. President Donald Trump, Merkel was cautious. Trump had recently praised current German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but Merkel dismissed the significance: “Unfortunately, we have, or will have, very fundamental disputes with the current U.S. administration.”
Conclusion
Merkel’s remarks show that even a decade after the refugee crisis, she stands firmly behind her decisions. At the same time, she drew sharp boundaries with political opponents at home and abroad. Her message remains clear: values-based politics is more important than short-term popularity.