German parliament rejects immigration bill despite far-right backing

The German parliament has rejected a controversial immigration bill proposed by the conservative opposition, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had garnered support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The bill, which aimed to tighten immigration policies, was defeated in a vote of 350 to 338, despite CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s attempt to secure the support of the AfD, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Merz, who is considered a frontrunner to become Germany's next chancellor, had sought to use the backing of the far-right AfD party to push through the immigration measures. This strategy, however, faced strong opposition, including from his predecessor as CDU leader and former chancellor, Angela Merkel. Merkel criticized Merz for breaking a previous pledge not to collaborate with the AfD in the Bundestag, calling it a betrayal of democratic values.

In his defence, Merz argued that his actions were “necessary” and insisted that he had not directly sought AfD’s support. “A right decision doesn’t become wrong just because the wrong people agree to it,” he stated, emphasizing his commitment to a tougher stance on migration, which he hoped would appeal to AfD supporters. However, his reliance on the far-right party for votes risks alienating more moderate voters.

The CDU’s decision to seek AfD support sparked public protests, with thousands taking to the streets on Thursday night in opposition to the far-right alliance. Despite leading in the polls ahead of Germany’s snap election next month, the CDU’s association with the AfD has drawn criticism from several political figures.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), along with the Greens, opposed the bill, with Scholz condemning Merz’s alliance with the AfD as an “unforgivable mistake.” Scholz reminded the Bundestag of a long-standing political consensus: “Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany over 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all democrats in our parliaments: we do not make common cause with the far-right.”

Merkel also weighed in, criticizing Merz for violating a promise made in November to work with the SPD and the Greens on legislation, rather than the AfD. She described the pledge as an “expression of great state political responsibility.”

The debate over immigration has intensified following a series of fatal attacks allegedly involving asylum seekers, including a recent incident in Aschaffenburg. Immigration has become a central issue in the election campaign triggered by the collapse of Scholz’s governing coalition, further polarizing public opinion on the matter.

The vote on January 31 was focused on draft legislation designed to curb immigration numbers and limit family reunification rights. A non-binding motion on changes to immigration law had passed through parliament on January 29, but the proposed bill faced significant resistance, particularly from the SPD, the Greens, and other pro-immigration factions.

By Vafa Guliyeva