Source: www.bbc.co.uk
POTSDAM, GERMANY, October 15, 2010: Attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have “utterly failed”, Chancellor Angela Merkel says. In a speech in Potsdam, she said the so-called “multikulti” concept — where people would “live side-by-side” happily — did not work. Mrs Merkel’s comments come amid recent outpourings of strong anti-immigrant feeling from mainstream politicians. A recent survey showed that more than 30% of Germans believed Germany was “overrun by foreigners”.
Mrs Merkel stressed that immigrants living in Germany needed to do more to integrate, including learning to speak German. By speaking now, Mrs Merkel has now joined the increasingly hot debate on multiculturalism, coming down on the side of those who are uneasy about immigration, says the BBC’s correspondent in Berlin, Stephen Evans.