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“The number of migrants coming in to Europe this year alone is now at more than 500,000.“
“仅今年就有50多万移民涌入欧洲。”
“Almost 900 people drowned as they attempted the crossing from Libya to the EU.
“近900人在试图从利比亚前往欧盟的途中溺水身亡。”
“Some countries are greeting them with open arms. Others are setting up fences with barbed wire on top.
“一些国家张开双臂欢迎这些移民。另一些则拉起了带刺的铁丝网。”
In 2015, more than 1 million refugees fled conflicts in Northern Africa and the Middle East and migrated to Europe.
2015年，100多万难民逃离北非和中东冲突，迁往欧洲。
Merkel called on EU leaders to help take in refugees.
默克尔呼吁欧盟领导人帮助接收那些难民。
But several European nations pushed back, as nationalist politicians in these countries stoked anti-immigrant fears.
但一些欧洲国家对难民进行了驱赶，因为这些国家的民族主义政客们激起了人们的反移民恐惧情绪。
This time, Merkel could not build a consensus.
这一次，默克尔没能再建立起共识。
Migrants piled up in Europe’s southern countries, causing a humanitarian crisis while undermining the solidarity of the EU.
移民大批涌入欧洲南部的一些国家，不仅引发了人道主义危机，还破坏了欧盟的团结。
So Merkel acted alone.
所以，默克尔单独行动了。
In 2015, Germany granted asylum to over 140 thousand migrants — more than any other European country.
2015年，德国为14万多移民提供了庇护——比其他任何欧洲国家都多。
At first things went well.
起初，一切都很顺利。
33% of Germans said the country could take on additional asylum-seekers.
有33%的德国人都说，德国还能接纳更多寻求庇护的人。
Many even met incoming trains carrying migrants with support and supplies.
很多人甚至还为载着移民的火车提供援助和物资。
But on New Year’s eve in 2015 the situation changed.
然而，就在2015年的除夕，情况发生了变化。
“A day after the allegations of mass sexual assault were made public,
“大规模性侵指控曝光的一天后，
Cologne continues to search for the perpetrators and for answers.”
科隆仍在寻找肇事者，寻找问题的答案。”
“The attackers are described as young men of Arab or North African appearance.”
袭击者被描述为一群阿拉伯或北非的年轻男子。
A rash of sexual assaults and thefts changed public opinion.
一系列的性侵和盗窃事件改变了公众对移民的看法。
After the attacks in Cologne, only 18% of Germans felt the country could take in more asylees.
科隆袭击事件后，已经只有18%的德国人认为德国可以接纳更多难民了。
And German public opinion reversed on Merkel too.
德国公众对默克尔的看法也发生了逆转。
A far-right party called the Alternative for Germany or AfD, seized on the anti-immigrant sentiment among voters.
一个名为“德国新选择党”(简称AfD)的极右翼政党也开始利用起选民的反移民情绪。
1.5 million voters who had previously backed Merkel’s Grand Coalition in 2013, switched their support and voted for the AfD in 2017.
2013年支持默克尔“大联合政府”的150万选民在2017年纷纷将选票转投给了新选择党。
Having lost support for her coalition government in 2018,
2018年失去大联合政府的民众支持率后，
Merkel decided to step down as leader of her party,
默克尔决定辞去政党领袖一职，
though she’ll remain Germany’s Chancellor until her term ends in 2021.
尽管她还是会继续担任德国总理到2021年任期结束。
Merkel’s party recently elected Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, as its next leader.
默克尔的政党最近选举出了安妮格雷特·克雷普·卡伦鲍尔为下一任领导人。
She’s a moderate Merkel ally who could very well become Germany’s next Chancellor.
她是默克尔的温和派盟友，而且很有可能成为德国下一任总理。
But for the rest of Europe, Merkel's absence could be more unsettling.
但相比德国国内，默克尔的离任对欧洲其他国家而言可能更加令人不安。
Since the Eurozone and migrant crises,
自欧元区危机和移民危机爆发以来，
Europe has seen nationalist political parties gain popularity in recent elections, threatening the unity of the EU.
欧洲的民族主义政党在最近的选举中越来越受欢迎，并已经威胁到了欧盟的统一。
And Merkel has gone from being a champion of a united Europe to its last remaining strong defender.
默克尔也已经从一个捍卫欧洲团结的捍卫者变成了欧洲最后一个坚定的捍卫者。
With Merkel stepping away, these nationalist leaders could gain influence over the future of the European Union.
随着默克尔下台，那些民族主义领导人对欧盟未来的影响力可能就会越来越大。
And that’s something Merkel is very aware of.
这点默克尔是非常清楚的。
