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Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the frontrunner to become the country’s next leader, may once again depend on votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to pass tougher immigration laws. This move, which follows a similar reliance on the AfD earlier in the week, has drawn widespread criticism.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has accused Merz of abandoning a previous commitment not to collaborate with the AfD in the Bundestag. However, Merz defended his position, calling it “necessary” and insisting that he neither sought nor welcomed the AfD’s backing.
“A right decision doesn’t become wrong just because the wrong people agree to it,” he said.
As the parliamentary vote approached on Friday, CDU leaders scrambled to secure support within their own ranks, with Merz facing pushback from centrist members of his party. While his hardline stance on migration is aimed at winning over AfD voters, his reliance on the party for legislative support risks alienating moderates.
On Thursday night, thousands of protesters took to the streets across Germany in opposition to the CDU’s perceived cooperation with the far-right.
The CDU is currently leading in polls ahead of Germany’s snap election next month, with the AfD polling in second place. However, Merz has ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD.
While Wednesday’s non-binding motion on immigration law changes passed in parliament, Friday’s vote will introduce concrete legislation to curb immigration numbers and restrict family reunification rights. However, the proposed measures are unlikely to take effect before February’s election and could face legal challenges under EU law.
The legislation is opposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and other parties. Scholz has strongly criticised Merz’s willingness to accept AfD support, calling it an “unforgivable mistake.”
“Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany over 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all democrats in our parliaments: we do not make common cause with the far right,” he said.
Merkel, in a rare political intervention, also criticised Merz, saying he had broken a pledge made in November to work with the SPD and Greens to pass immigration reforms rather than relying on the AfD. She described the pledge as an “expression of great state political responsibility.”
Meanwhile, AfD leader Alice Weidel accused mainstream parties of disregarding German voters by refusing to cooperate with her party. Sections of the AfD have been classified as right-wing extremist by German intelligence agencies.
Germany’s immigration debate has intensified in recent weeks following a series of fatal attacks allegedly committed by asylum seekers, including the most recent incident in Aschaffenburg. Immigration has become a central issue in the election campaign, which was triggered by the collapse of Scholz’s governing coalition.
Faridah Abdulkadir
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