Germany’s parliament erupted in chaos on Wednesday after a non-binding motion calling for stricter border and asylum rules passed with support from the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), the BBC reported.
The move broke a long-standing political “firewall” against collaborating with the far-right, triggering heated exchanges and accusations among lawmakers.
Conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who proposed the motion, defended it as “necessary” to address public safety concerns. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the move as an “unforgivable mistake,” accusing Merz of undermining democratic norms.
The motion, which also had backing from the liberal FDP, called for a ban on individuals entering Germany without proper documentation. While symbolic, it signaled a shift in the CDU’s approach to migration and its willingness to accept AfD support. Merz plans to introduce actual legislation on Friday, aiming to curb immigration numbers and restrict family reunification rights.
The debate over migration has intensified in Germany following a series of fatal attacks involving asylum-seekers, including a recent incident in Aschaffenburg. With a snap election scheduled for February, immigration has become a central campaign topic.
Merz, whose CDU leads in polls, insisted he neither sought nor wanted AfD backing. “A policy isn’t wrong just because the wrong people back it,” he told the Bundestag. However, his stance contradicted the CDU’s official policy of avoiding cooperation with the far-right.
The AfD, currently polling at 20%, has criticized Germany’s memory culture and called for a broader view of the country’s history. Sections of the party are classified as right-wing extremists by domestic intelligence. AfD leader Alice Weidel described the firewall against her party as an “anti-democratic cartel agreement” and predicted its eventual collapse.
The timing of the vote added to the controversy. Earlier in the day, the Bundestag held its annual commemoration for victims of the Nazi regime, with Holocaust survivor Roman Schwarzmann and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urging Germans to remember their historical responsibility.
Merz’s move marks a departure from the centrist policies of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who famously declared “we can do it” during the 2015 refugee crisis. Critics argue that by opening the door to AfD support, Merz risks alienating moderate voters while appealing to the far-right.
The AfD’s cheers in parliament, after the vote came in, underscored the significance of the moment. For many, the firewall’s breach represents a dangerous shift in German politics, raising questions about the future of democratic norms in the country.