Angela Merkel's response to the refugee crisis is being seen as a major contributor to her loss of support and impending departure.

The German Chancellor has had a string of polling setbacks, so will be stepping down as leader of the CDU in December and as Chancellor in 2021.

Jeff Rathke is the head of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, and told Kate Hawkesby under Merkel's leadership, Germany took in just over one million refugees.

“At the time when it was an enormous problem for Europe, she was the leader who stepped up to solve it.”

LISTEN ABOVE AS JEFF RATHKE SPEAKS TO KATE HAWKESBY