Germany's far-right AfD holds party convention in Dresden. Germany’s largest opposition party, the Alternative for Germany, will include calls for the deportation of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, and for severe restrictions to be imposed on immigration. It will also suggest that Germany should follow the British example, and leave the EU, as well as the eurozone. #AfD #AfDConvention #DresdenProtest #DWNews #THECORNER

"Sigmar Gabriel, a former leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the federal minister for economic affairs and energy at the time of the crisis, recalls Merkel’s conviction-driven view on the refugee influx. While debating the potential closure of German borders, Merkel replied, “But promise me one thing, Mr. Gabriel, we won’t build fences.” Looking back, Gabriel reflects, “I can still see her shaking her head … I remember thinking, this is not a superficial position, it was deep inside her.” Merkel had grown up during the Cold War in East Germany and had considered fleeing a dictatorial regime and repression herself." Read more.