Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed disapproval towards Friedrich Merz, the current leader of the country's conservatives, for passing a bill on tighter immigration control with the support of the far right. Merkel stated that she believed the outcome of the parliamentary vote, where a Christian Democrat motion was approved with backing from the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), was incorrect.
The move to collaborate with the AfD broke a longstanding political taboo in Germany, leading to backlash from various individuals. Holocaust survivor Albrecht Weinberg returned his Federal Order of Merit medal in protest, while Michel Friedman, a Jewish community leader and former member of the CDU's presidency, resigned from the party. Berlin mayor Kai Wegener also expressed dissatisfaction, emphasizing that he would not engage in cooperation with the far-right.
Despite criticism, Merz defended his decision, stating that the bill was necessary regardless of the supporters. Merkel accused Merz of reneging on his commitment to seek majorities with mainstream parties rather than the AfD, urging democratic parties to unite against violent attacks.
The issue of border and asylum policy has come into focus during the election campaign, particularly following recent violent incidents involving asylum seekers. The AfD, currently polling second in surveys behind Merz's conservative bloc, is under surveillance by German security services for suspected right-wing extremism.
Protests erupted outside the CDU party's headquarters in Berlin, prompting police warnings for staff safety. Merz, addressing demonstrators in Dresden, downplayed the protests, emphasizing the conservatives' role in ensuring the irrelevance of parties like the AfD in Germany.
