Is the End of Merkel Nigh?
Is the end of German Chancellor Angela Merkel nigh? That’s what many are asking themselves in Germany.
We’re just three months into Germany’s new government, and it has already hit a major crisis.
Once again, the migrant crisis is shaking German politics. In 2015, Merkel opened the floodgates to migrants. German Interior Minister and chairman of the Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (csu) Horst Seehofer wants to shut them again, no matter what his boss tells him.
He’s threatening to reverse the chancellor’s migrant policy—not allowing any more into Germany.
He’s threatening to do this without Ms. Merkel’s permission.
If Merkel tolerated this open rebellion against her authority as chancellor, she would lose all credibility. Other ministers would defy her and her government would fall apart. Or she could fire Seehofer for insubordination. But without Seehofer’s csu party, Merkel lacks a majority in the Bundestag, and her shaky coalition government would fall apart.
Seehofer has given Merkel until the end of the month to find a European solution, or he’ll trigger the crisis.
So 10 European Union leaders are meeting this weekend to talk about migration. Then leaders of all EU nations will meet at the end of the month.
But Europe has been working on this issue for years with no solution. Merkel is in a tight spot.
Even worse, if she wiggles out, she only has more tight spots to look forward to. Look how fast this coalition hit a big obstacle. It is inherently unstable; just a few rebels can threaten the whole government. Each party is worried about being demolished by more extreme parties. It’s a recipe for instability.
The Bible forecasts a major change in German politics. Daniel 8 and 11 describe a strong leader rising. Chapter 11 says that he won’t be voted into office; instead, he’ll enter in by “flatteries.” He works behind the scenes. The Trumpet said years ago that a weak coalition could lead to him taking power.
Now that weak coalition is here. Merkel may survive this crisis, but how long until the next one? And the next? Another three months? Even less?
The Bible has a lot to say about some major changes coming to Germany and Europe, and those changes are coming very soon. You can read more about this in our free booklet A Strong German Leader Is Imminent.
Germany’s Involvement Abroad
On Wednesday, June 20, the German government published its statistics on arms exports in 2017.
The data shows that even though exports have fallen 10 percent in the last year, it was still Germany’s third-highest year ever.
German-Foreign-Policy.com noted that several “target areas are clearly distinguished as the focus of armaments exports.”
Two of these target areas the report highlighted are the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. From 2008 to 2016, for example, Germany sold nearly $4 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia and over $2 billion to the United Arab Emirates. Regardless of a recent hiccup (Saudi Arabia’s annoyance that Germany wants to continue with the Iran deal), the long-term policy is clear.
In 2017, Egypt and Algeria were also big targets, with Tunisia playing a small role. German-Foreign-Policy.com said Germany is trying to build up North African navies—so that it can secure the North African coast with their help.
The Trumpet has also said to watch for German involvement in these areas. In 2013, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote: “Germany has expected to clash with Iran, and it has been working on a strategy for a decade or more. That strategy is almost complete. Germany has surrounded Iran.”
Germany is already preparing to confront Iran. Part of the way it is doing so is by supporting anti-Iranian and anti-Islamist armies in the Middle East and North Africa. Daniel 11 prophesies of a clash between Germany and Iran—and Germany is already preparing for it. The Bible says Germany will lead an alliance of Middle Eastern nations; it is building toward this today.
You can read more about these prophecies in our free booklet The King of the South.
