Analysis-Once welcoming Germany talks tougher on asylum ahead of elections

At the height of Europe's migrant crisis in 2015 Germany was heralded for its open-door policy, with images broadcast worldwide of citizens welcoming asylum seekers fleeing war and deprivation in the Middle East with flowers and donations. Eight years later, however, the mood has soured, with parties across the political spectrum rushing to outbid one another on ways to curb irregular migration – ranging from cutting benefits to capping the number of people granted asylum. Last week, the centre-left government ramped up border controls within what is normally the European Union's zone of open travel.