Merkel didn't shut border because ‘she was scared it might look bad'

The Chancellor had actually finalised plans to shut the border with Austria in September 2015 and was mobilising hundreds of guards when she got cold feet, according to Robin Alexander in

his new book ‘Driven By Events: Merkel’s Refugee Policy’. The high-profile political reporter claimed Mrs Merkel was concerned “for historical reasons” about how German guards acting

aggressively on borders may appear to the rest of the world. Mr Alexander said: “For historical reasons, the Chancellor feared images of armed German police confronting civilians on our

borders. “In the end, Angela Merkel refused to assume responsibility even as everything was in place to close the borders so they remained open - without an explicit decision.” The book

alleges Mrs Merkel had moved to close the border when she was told of a huge group of migrants moving through the Balkans towards Germany.  However, just before finalising the decision, Mr

Alexander said she spoke to German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere, who asked her: “Can we live with the images that will come out of this? “What happens if 500 refugees with children

in their arms run towards the border guards?” Mrs Merkel conducted a rapid U-turn and left the borders open, allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter Germany.  At this time she

was also pictured taking selfies with migrants, in images that went around the world and are credited with increasing the amount of people arriving in Germany.  Mr Alexander said: “The

selfies were not planned, the border opening was not planned. MERKEL TO 'ACCELERATE' DEPORTING NON-ASYLUM TUNISIANS “But then came a wave of incredible rapture in Germany and she

went with the public mood as ever. Merkel governs by the polls.” Since then, however, public opinion has swung against Mrs Merkel and her open border policy.  GETTY Photos of Angela Merkel

taking selfies with migrants went viral in 2015 With federal elections fast approaching, support for the far-right, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party has surged from three per cent

to 15 per cent.  READ MORE: WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY PARTY?