author of the biography the german angler merkel and others thank you both for joining me in the arena ralph let me start with you in the past you've praised anglo merkel's leadership you even wrote in your twenty thirteen biography that she was quote in perfect sync with the national mood that isn't quite the case today though is it nearly half of germans according to the poll say they want merkel to resign in twenty seventeen she let her party to the worst result since nineteen forty nine era of dominance seems to be over isn't it. there are two reasons i would say first of all she's an office for twelve years and that's a lot of time even for germany and of course it's also a problem forming the government is very difficult now and that's not a very comfortable position for and the other reason of course is refugees policy since two thousand or in two thousand and fifteen when. nearly one million a year for refugees came to germany. and of course that was a great force for the right wing nationalist of the party but while i think that it's not the fault of america because there were a few