German Chancellor Angela Merkel cited a “gratifying” drop in the number of refugees entering Germany and defended her efforts to reach a deal with Turkey on migration as she made a final effort to win votes on the eve of three state elections.
More than one-fifth of the German population lives in the three regions, making the contest the biggest of Merkel’s third term.
The German leader is trying to blunt public discontent over the influx of asylum seekers from the Middle East.
