Reuters International
This content was published on November 16, 2018
CHEMNITZ, Germany (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday urged people to stand up against hatred and reject “lies” about a U.N. migration accord during her first visit to the city of Chemnitz since a spate of far-right violence that tarnished Germany’s image abroad.
Germans were shocked by images of skinheads chasing migrants in the eastern city after the fatal stabbing of a man was blamed on two migrants, one of whom was later released from custody. Members of the far right also clashed with police, performed the banned Hitler salute and attacked a Jewish restaurant.
The violence exposed deep divisions over Merkel’s 2015 decision to welcome almost one million mostly Muslim asylum seekers, and nearly led to the collapse of her government.
Merkel fielded tough questions about that policy and other issues during a two-hour town hall with local residents, calmly telling a man who asked when she would “finally resign” that she would serve out her term, and adding, “We should all accept the results of democratic elections.”
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