Germany’s Merkel says migration deal is no about-turn

BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is rejecting suggestions that an agreement to set up “transit centres” on the border with Austria, from which some asylum-seekers would be returned to other European countries, marks a turnaround in her migration policy.

The agreement among Merkel’s conservative bloc hinges on other countries taking back migrants they’ve previously registered, as well on as the chancellor’s centre-left coalition partners. Merkel said people would be kept in the new centres for 48 hours at most.

Merkel refused to close Germany’s borders as the migrant influx peaked in 2015 but has since significantly toughened her stance. She backed a wider but later-aborted proposal for border facilities over two years ago.

Asked by ARD television Wednesday whether she has now become a “sealing-off chancellor,” Merkel replied: “No. A clear no.”