Germany's potential future leader, Friedrich Merz, faces criticism for potentially seeking support from the far-right AfD party to pass a legislation toughening immigration laws. This move has sparked widespread condemnation, with Angela Merkel accusing him of breaking a previous vow not to collaborate with AfD. Despite defending his actions as "necessary," Merz has clarified that he did not actively seek the AfD's backing.
Amidst discussions on pausing the vote to reconsider the legislation, the CDU, led by Merz, is currently leading in polls for the upcoming snap election, while AfD stands in second place. Merz has, however, ruled out forming any coalition with AfD. The public backlash was evident with thousands protesting against the CDU's alignment with the far-right.
The proposed immigration legislation aims to restrict immigration numbers and family reunion rights but faces obstacles, including compliance with EU laws and opposition from parties like the SPD, led by Chancellor Scholz. Scholz criticized Merz's reliance on AfD as an "unforgivable mistake," stressing the historical aversion to aligning with the far-right in German politics.
Meanwhile, AfD's leader, Alice Weidel, accused mainstream parties of disrespecting voters by snubbing her party. Some factions within AfD have been labeled as right-wing extremists, adding complexity to the electoral discourse following the collapse of Scholz's coalition, which triggered the upcoming election.