Berlin – The German parliament faced a significant moment on Friday as it narrowly voted down an opposition-driven proposal that sought to impose stricter migration regulations. This bill had the potential to be the first to pass with the backing of the far-right party, igniting a fierce debate about the attitudes towards extremism in the lead-up to the forthcoming election in Germany.
Friedrich Merz, the opposition leader and frontrunner for the February 23 election, has made a more stringent migration policy the focal point of his campaign following a tragic knife attack attributed to a rejected asylum seeker last week. Critics have accused him of crossing a line by courting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, potentially undermining the established barriers that traditional parties have maintained against extreme views. Merz, however, maintains that his stance is consistent and he has no intention of collaborating with the AfD.
Just days prior, Merz introduced a nonbinding motion to parliament advocating for increased border enforcement to limit migrant entries, emphasizing the urgency of taking action irrespective of political alignments. This initiative narrowly passed with the support from the far-right, marking a notable development that elicited a rare public critical response from Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor and previous leader of Merz’s party.
On Friday, a long-standing proposal from Merz’s center-right Union bloc aimed at ending family reunification for migrants granted a lesser protection status, also included expanded deportation powers for federal police. The ruling coalition of center-left parties expressed their intent to dismiss this “influx limitation bill,” while a mix of opposition groups, including the AfD, voiced support.
After extensive discussions that were marred by failed attempts at compromise among the mainstream parties, the proposal was ultimately rejected by a vote count of 350 to 338, with five abstentions. Applause resonated through the chamber as the outcome was announced, highlighting the division on the issue. Merz remarked that the failure of the “asylum turnaround” he aimed for was due to opposition from the governing coalition.
These recent developments have intensified the rift not only between Merz’s faction and the ruling parties led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats but also between the coalition’s remaining allies, the Greens. Current polls place the Union at about 30% support, with the AfD following at roughly 20%, while the Social Democrats and Greens trail behind.
Merz seems to be banking on the Union fostering an image of decisiveness concerning migration policies, hoping to diminish the allure of the anti-immigration AfD while portraying the governing parties as disconnected from the concerns of the populace. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain.
During the heated debates, Green party member Annalena Baerbock cautioned, “You don’t have to tear down a firewall with a wrecking ball to set your own house on fire. It’s enough to keep drilling holes,” alluding to the potential normalization of far-right influences through these political maneuvers.
In response to accusations of collaboration with the AfD, Merz asserted, “You can’t seriously believe that we are reaching out our hand to a party that wants to destroy us?” He committed to his efforts to restrain the rising influence of the AfD.
Public opposition has manifested itself visibly, with thousands protesting outside the local headquarters of Merz’s party. Further demonstrations took place across various cities in Germany, underscoring the broad concern over the direction of migration policy and the increasing visibility of the far-right in German politics.
In a significant political shift, the upcoming election will take place earlier than originally planned, following the breakdown of Scholz’s previous coalition in November over economic revitalization discussions, leaving him without a parliamentary majority.
