Refugees have duty to integrate: Merkel

March 13, 2016 00:12

On the eve of regional elections set to show her Christian Democrats losing support, Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that refugees had a "duty" to integrate themselves into German society.

"We expect refugees to accept these offers (of integration). It is a duty and not just a possibility," said Merkel, who has been under increasing pressure after throwing open Germany's doors to newcomers, with 1.1 million refugees -- many of them Syrians -- seeking asylum in Europe's biggest economy last year alone.

She was speaking in the southern town of Haigerloch on the final day of campaigning, with her comments reported by German news agency DPA.

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