The rectors of Ghent University and the Catholic University of Leuven had unwisely decided to reward Merkel’s welcoming stance towards refugees in 2015 with a joint honorary PhD, while she is facing a political and social backlash at home for the same policies, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Campaigners held placards with slogans reading “Merkel not welcome” and “Merkel must go” following a spate of terror attacks. Activists also held posters emblazoned with the face of Angela Merkel and the message: “Terror Berlin 19-12-2016 GUILTY”.
To the protesters outside the venue – located in a tough immigrant neighborhood of Brussels — Merkel is the embodiment of a naive stance towards immigration.
They reminded her that she was allowing the Islamization of Europe. Dozens of police and security guards had to keep the protesters at a distance from the entry where Merkel was shielded and quickly ushered in.
Ghent University rector Anne De Paepe told the audience she was “proud” to host the ceremony “in this rather special area, right in the heart of everyday life in Brussels”, in a sad, derelict immigrant neighbourhood.
De Paepe also took a stab at US President-elect Donald Trump, and continued that “whereas some people — in all their ignorance — refer to this city as a ‘hellhole’ to be avoided, we believe that precisely in these turbulent times, we must not retreat into ourselves. An honorary doctorate, too, is a way to reject the ivory tower”.
De Paepe added the usual empty slogans, saying that Merkel was chosen for “her diplomatic and political efforts to boost Europe’s political strength, and to defend the values which allow the continent to find unity in diversity”.
The Chancellor was clearly in the Belgian capital for a political boost, with Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, also attending the ceremony. He lauded Merkel for her “embodiment of the word ‘freedom’”.
“If we are afraid of freedom, we will lose peace and prosperity. We’re here today because your solidarity and responsibility is something we want to defend in Europe,” Michel said.
But a rebellion is brewing against Merkel’s controversial immigration policies and lack of leadership after Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist Anis Amri ploughed a HGV lorry into Berlin Christmas market revellers, killing 12 and injuring 48 others.
Seeped in Willkommenskultur, German authorities failed to deport Berlin terror attack suspect Amri, 24, a Tunisian asylum-seeker, because he had no valid identity papers, even though he had been funding his terror effort with German tax money by using false names.
This is not the first time protesters have taken to the streets to call for the German leader to step down.
Campaigners shouted “Merkel must go” during a protest in Dresden as Merkel arrived to celebrate German Unity Day.
In a press conference with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel just hours before arriving in Brussels, Merkel tried to sound more reasonable about open borders, but the Brussels event once again clouded her effort.
No comments.
By submitting a comment you grant Free West Media a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.