Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly criticized her successor, the center-right leader and front-runner in Germany's upcoming election, for proposing strict new migration rules that required the support of a far-right party to pass in parliament.
The center-left governing parties have expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of the conservative leader, who pushed for measures to cut irregular migration following a recent deadly knife attack by a rejected asylum-seeker. The proposal, which called for turning back more migrants at Germany's borders, narrowly passed with the help of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Despite polls showing the center-right Union bloc led by Merkel's successor in the lead with around 30% support, the AfD remains a significant force with approximately 20% support. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and the Greens are trailing behind.
Merkel, who rarely comments on current political affairs, highlighted her disappointment with her successor's decision to seek support from the AfD in parliament, despite his previous stance against such actions before the upcoming election.
The current CDU leader, known for his more conservative approach to migration issues, has been critical of Merkel's past policies that allowed large numbers of migrants into Germany. He aims to position the Union as tough on migration to counter the appeal of the anti-immigration AfD and portray the center-left coalition as weak.
While Merkel has largely stayed out of the political spotlight since leaving office, her recent intervention could pose a credibility challenge for her successor. It remains to be seen whether his strategy to project decisiveness on migration will resonate with voters and impact the election outcome.
