Germany is one of the leading cornerstones on which the EU is built. As long as Germany can stand and continue shouldering the EU, the EU can preserve its position in the world. All the EU countries with economic problems, including Greece, which is suffering from a financial debt crisis, are well aware of the fact that the EU could not exist without Germany. Despite a general antipathy toward Germany in Greece, even the Greeks know that Greece does not have a chance to recover from its crisis without Germany's support.
The person who keeps Germany in this stable position is Chancellor Angela Merkel.
At each election, The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), known as the Union Parties, take firm steps toward being the first party thanks to Merkel.
Other parties in Germany do actually lag behind today's powerful and ambitious Germany. Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), which did not have any influential leader after former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, knows that it does not have a chance to win the following general elections against Merkel. Therefore, potential candidates prefer to remain silent when asked who would be the new candidate and is actually synonymous with who will lose to Merkel this time for the SDP.
The Free Democratic Party (FDP), a liberal party that used to be an unrivalled government partner once, now considers itself lucky if it even achieves joining the Bundestag. Die Linke, or the Left, which has its roots in the former communist East Germany, does not have any role other than acting as a bit player in parliamentary democracy since the party contradicts all the values that make up the strength of Germany.
As for the Greens, they do not assure either the German electorate or the international public with the infantile policy they started to pursue after losing their successful leader Joschka Fischer. It would not be wrong to argue that this party, which contradicts its own values by backing the outlawed PKK and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey, clashes with Germany.
The refugee problem, which has stirred a desperate crisis in Europe, has been a top subject in Germany, which shoulders the burden of the EU. Since countries including Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have not fulfilled their human duties by disregarding EU values, the refugee issue has completely been shouldered by Germany. Since Germany has to accept more refugees as other EU countries fail in fulfilling their duties, it has started to experience major problems in domestic politics. The German public is upset with this development. In towns where there are many refugees, the real estate has begun to decrease in value, which worries German citizens.
Even though the SPD is trying to resolve the problem despite its usual ineptitude, it is not successful even in the states where it is in power. The Left and the Greens do not make any contribution to the resolution other than engaging in demagogy and coming up with suggestions that go against practice. Only the CDU and CSU, which is confronted with the refugee issue intensely in the state of Bavaria, are exerting efforts for a resolution. Despite all the obnoxious statements and announcements of some irresponsible statesmen in the EU, Merkel has expressed the responsibility of the EU and Germany. Upon doing so, she has even been criticized by her own proponents. As Merkel takes positive steps for refugees she is likely to incur losses in votes, and the latest public surveys are alarming for Merkel in that sense.
At this very point, the importance of Turkish-German cooperation stands out. This cooperation might be the sole remedy for the EU.
Since leaders of many unskilled and unsuccessful EU countries do not engage in any activity other than talking, a dialogue between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Merkel is of vital importance since both countries have been exerting all their efforts for refugees.
Although some SPD and Greens proponents in Germany are making some unfortunate remarks in that vital moment, cooperation between the German and Turkish governments can present a facility to permanently resolve the issue of Syrian refugees. As a hopeful development, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Merkel on the refugee crisis while both were in New York to attend the U.N.'s 70th General Assembly. The subjects they discussed, including the refugee crisis, the fight against the PKK and the return of the fugitive prosecutors alleged to be a part of the "parallel structure," are crucial for Turkey in terms of a close alliance with Germany.
The German public is about to run out of patience, of which Merkel is aware. Some cooperation with Turkey may relieve the unrest of citizens in Germany. The EU and EU countries will also be relieved to a great extent if Germany finds a resolution to the refugee crisis through joint efforts with Turkey.
Lately, dialogue between Germany and Turkey has developed. However, this dialogue is required to evolve into structural and permanent steps in practice.
Some positive results could come forth if Germany reconsiders Turkey's suggestions regarding Syria, handles the fight against the PKK as attentively as it handled the Red Army Faction (RAF) case in the past and cooperates with Turkey at least on the issue of the fugitive prosecutors affiliated with the illegal organization known as the "parallel structure" in Turkey, which might also pose a threat to Germany in the future with its underground activities in the country.
Possible Turkish-German cooperation is likely to introduce great advantages for the benefits and interests of the EU as well.
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