Germany's major [[establishment]] political parties did not mention the migrant crisis in the 2017 parliamentary election campaign.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (July 8, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/07/08/major-german-parties-leave-migrant-issues-campaign/ Major German Parties Ignore Migrant Crisis During Election Campaign]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 11, 2017.</ref>
When discussing her options on how to counter the migrant crisis in 2015, Merkel quickly dismissed the notion of restoring border controls.<ref>Hale, Virginia (September 25, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/25/no-fences-merkels-migrant-crisis-vow/ ‘We Won’t Build Any Fences’: Interview Reveals Merkel’s Reaction to 2015 Migrant Crisis]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref> She also opposed setting an upper limit on the number of refugees allowed into Germany,<ref name="RefugeeCapOppose"/> but after the 2017 elections, in order to create a governing coalition, she agreed to set a "soft" cap (as opposed to a "hard" cap).<ref>Karnitschnig, Matthew (October 8, 2017). [http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-accepts-soft-refugee-cap-resists-obergrenze-csu-cdu-afd-greens-coalition-talks-germany-elections/ Angela Merkel accepts soft refugee cap, resists ‘Obergrenze’]. ''Politico''. Retrieved October 9, 2017.</ref> After creating a "grand coalition" with the Social Democratic Party, Merkel and her coalition partner declared that the migrant crisis was over and yet promised to admit between 180,000 and 220,000 refugees every year.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (January 13, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/13/german-grand-coalition-declares-migrant-crisis-will-let-220000-migrants-per-year/ German ‘Grand Coalition’ Declares Migrant Crisis ‘Over’, Will Let in 220,000 Migrants Per Year]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 13, 2018.</ref> In March 2018, Merkel proposed giving the EU the sole authority over asylum policy.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (March 22, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/03/22/merkel-pushes-eu-common-asylum-system-inviting-millions-migrants-europe/ Merkel Pushes for EU Common Asylum System After Inviting Millions of Migrants to Europe]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 22, 2018.</ref> In May 2018, the German government announced that it would use its rotating seat on the [[UN Security Council]] to support "open societies" and fight "nationalists and populists."<ref>Hale, Virginia (May 18, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/05/18/germany-un-seat-fight-populism/ Germany Will Use UN Seat ‘to Promote Openness and Fight Populism’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2018.</ref> While Merkel appeared to abandon the EU's migrant quota system by June 2018 in the face of opposition by more conservative governments, she continued supporting a plan endorsed by [[George Soros]] that would give large sums of money to African countries to help reduce migration.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (June 9, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/06/09/merkel-abandons-migrant-quotas-eu-soros-africa-plan/ Merkel Abandons Migrant Quotas, Pushes for EU ‘Flexible Solidarity’ and Soros-Approved Africa Plan]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 9, 2018.</ref>
In an interview in early 2018, the new interior minister [[Horst Seehofer]] said that Germany had been "shaped by Christianity", and that the country should not give up its own traditions. Furthermore, he stated that [[Islam]] "does not belong in Germany."<ref>Multiple references: