There was also widespread panic over Europe's ongoing migrant crisis, which, one observer argues, may have been a direct consequence of the refugee crisis. Such fears and panic are in no wise surprising for Angela Merkel, who enjoys the support of her populist People's Party — the country's most powerful party. Her government and Chancellor Angela Merkel in December 2015 pledged that they would continue dealing with migration, but this seems unlikely to have happened. However, she remains open enough to the challenge of dealing with migrant violence.