Merkel opposes unilaterally setting limit on number of refugees

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed here her opposition to setting a limit on the number of refugees on the party convention of Christian Social Union (CSU) on Friday.

Merkel said in a 30-minute speech that she wanted to achieve a reduction in the number of refugees through an international solution instead of an unilaterally set limit.

Given the "mega-challenge" of "many, many refugees," all emphasis should be put on a European and international solution, she said, adding "this lets us save lives and reduce the number of refugees."

In addition, Merkel also thanked German police and security department for their anti-terror operation.

However, Merkel's words have not brought herself as much applause as usual. One of the attendees even held two pieces of paper in his hands, reading "Merkel Out".

On the other hand, Horst Seehofer, chief of CSU, stressed that no permanent approval of the population for the refugee policy will be made without an upper number limit.

Before Merkel's speech, the party convention of CSU adopted a main motion to immigration with large majority, saying "Germany should set a quota for civil war refugees for the next year in accordance with its affordable capacity."

CSU is the sister party of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union(CDU). But the CSU and CDU have argued about the right course in the refugee policy for weeks. Endit