Angela Merkel awarded Order of Merit : German Chancellor Angela Merkel was recently awarded the highest civilian award in Germany, the Order of Merit, for her contributions to the country and the European Union. However, some people have criticized this decision, claiming that Merkel is undeserving of the honor. Here are three reasons why some believe Merkel has ruined the EU and does not deserve the award.
Angela Merkel awarded Order of Merit
Firstly, despite being a conservative, Merkel created a left-leaning status quo in Europe. Merkel has been the head of the Christian Democratic Union party in Germany since 2000 and has generally been considered a conservative. However, during her time as Chancellor, Merkel has pursued policies that many conservatives would consider to be liberal. For example, she has been a strong supporter of the EU’s climate policies, which are often seen as being left-leaning.
Secondly, Merkel’s handling of the Greek debt crisis has been criticized. While Merkel did agree to a bailout for Greece, she did so on harsh terms that many Greeks felt were unfair. This has strained the relationship between Greece and Germany and caused resentment towards Merkel in Greece.
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Lastly, Merkel’s decision to welcome Syrian refugees into Germany and the rest of Europe has also been controversial. While many people believe that this was a compassionate and necessary decision, others have criticized Merkel for not considering the potential risks of allowing so many refugees into the country. Some have claimed that the influx of refugees has led to a rise in crime and terrorism in Germany and Europe.
Considering Merkel’s terrible track record on governance, the decision to bestow the highest civilian award on her is laughable. A successful, deserving and hard-working leader is one who never abandons his/her political ideology and values in the face of personal favors. However, Merkel did the opposite, she sacrificed her principles and values in order to further her political career and her decisions had adverse repercussions on Germany and the rest of Europe. Therefore, Angela Merkel receiving the highest civilian award Order of Merit is an irony in itself.
