Merkel defends refugee stance by attacking 'polarisation and populism'

Wuerzburg, Germany

ANGELA Merkel hit back at a surge in "polarisation and populism" two days after the German chancellor featured as the main target of criticism by a gathering of right-wing European leaders.

Defending her refugee policy as an act of moral and legal obligation by a "state of laws," Mrs Merkel said that Europeans must stand by principles that include offering asylum to those fleeing from war and oppression.

"In my view it's not helpful to try to solve the problems with polarisation and populism," Mrs Merkel said in a speech to a Catholic church group in the southern German city of Wuerzburg on Monday evening. "We have to show - and we ca…