The former German chancellor points (auf Deutsch) to a problematic rock in Germany's current hard place: it needs a modern, coherent immigration system - and immigrants! - to sustain its economy and welfare state. An easy case for him to make from his current position, without an easy political fix, but nonetheless true. An English summary can be found here.
This article really captures much of the political dilemma facing a country like Germany. On the one hand, the country desperately needs immigrants - and especially in small towns like Goslar whose populations and economies are shrinking rapidly. On the other hand, the settlement and integration of immigrants is highly controversial politically - and again, especially in small towns like Goslar whose populations aren't accustomed to the multicultural diversity that immigration brings. You might expect this kind of political rhetoric from the SPD or Greens, but it's all the more noteworthy because this case is being made by a CDU politician.
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