Angela Merkel is facing growing dissent within her conservative ranks as Germany continues to bear the brunt of Europe's immigration crisis. But as Ivor Bennett reports, the Chancellor's efforts to stem the flow of migrants are proving just as unpopular.
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One year on and support is stronger than ever. The recent surge in immigration attracting 10,000 protesters to the first anniversary rally of anti-Islam group PEGIDA in Dresden. Many with a clear message of who is to blame. SOUNDBITE (German) PEGIDA DEMONSTRATOR, MATTHIAS BÜCKLE, SAYING: "All the refugees and migrants are waging war on each other with the conditions... the best thing for the government to do is to step down and hold a new election." Upwards of 800,000 migrants and refugees are expected to arrive in Germany this year. Piling pressure on the government to act. Many travel through Turkey. A country Angela Merkel believes holds the solution. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We can see that there is a migration flow. This flow might increase and come to the European Union from Turkey. And we believe that we should share Turkey's burden and support Turkey and help them to tackle this problem." But it's what that help is that's proving controversial. Merkel's offer to push forward Turkey's bid for EU membership has prompted public criticism from within her own power base. A first chink in the armour perhaps, made worse by a slew of weak economic data. CIBC's Jeremy Stretch. SOUNDBITE (English) JEREMY STRETCH, CIBC, SAYING: "An injection of younger people who are keen to work could be seen as a beneficial aspect for the German economy over the course of the next 10 to 20 years. But in the short term from a political standpoint, Chancellor Merkel is not quite as robust as she was." Opinion polls in particular are sounding the alarm bell. Merkel's popularity sliding to its lowest level in nearly four years earlier this month.