German election frontrunner Friedrich Merz successfully pushed through a motion in parliament on Wednesday calling for stricter migration policies, including the denial of asylum to individuals at the country's land borders.
Although the voting details remain unclear, it appears that the motion was approved with the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, along with other minor parties, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens had previously opposed it.
This move represents a bold strategy for Merz, the leader of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc in the opposition, ahead of the February 23 election. While it allows him to take the lead on migration policies, it also marks a significant departure by collaborating with the far-right, breaking a longstanding political taboo.