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Merkel unhappy with CDU’s move towards far-right AfD

Copyright: European Union
Then, Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel participated in the October 2021 European Council.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared Christian Democratic Union (CDU) head Friedrich Merz, her successor as party leader, “wrong” to have pushed for tougher migration rules in a parliamentary move this week that required the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The CDU-sponsored non-binding parliamentary motion, which called for Germany to turn back more migrants at its borders, scraped through only because of AfD’s support. 

With elections scheduled for 23 February, CDU currently heads the polls with 30%. AfD is in second place with 20%, while incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz‘s centre-left Social Democrats and its remaining coalition partner, the Greens, trail behind.  Hitherto, Germany’s political parties were pledged to a “firewall” consensus that whatever the outcome of the election, none would consider forming a coalition that involved an alliance with AfD.

Wednesday’s parliamentary vote has left the country’s centre-left governing parties sceptical as to the intentions of the CDU leader. Merz said he had sought a majority in the “democratic centre” and he regretted that didn’t happen. But he also insisted that “a correct decision doesn’t become wrong because the wrong people approve it.” Despite Merz’s insistence that he didn’t break the political consensus to shun AfD, doubts are being voiced about whether he can be trusted any longer to honour the “firewall” pact not to bring the far-right AfD into government. 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accused the CDU leader of making “an inexcusable mistake.”

Former Chancellor and CDU leader Merkel noted how Merz had pledged in November that no measures would be passed with AfD’s support before the 23 February election. “It was wrong no longer to feel committed to this proposal and, on 29 January, to enable with open eyes for the first time a majority with votes from AfD in a vote in the German parliament.” 

Merkel acknowledged the need to prevent violent attacks such as those recently attributed to immigrants. Still, she said it was imperative that “all democratic parties” work together with full respect for European Union law and “not as a tactical manoeuvre”. 

Since succeeding Merkel as party leader in 2021, the more conservative Merz has taken a restrictive approach to migration issues, now one of the major election issues. Last week, he declared that Germany has had a “misguided asylum and immigration policy” for a decade (since Merkel allowed large numbers of migrants into the country). By taking a tougher stance on the migration issue, Merz is believed to be seeking to win more support for CDU in a calculated bid to stem the appeal of the anti-immigration AfD and to make centre-left Scholz and the Greens look weak.

Today, CDU plans a vote on proposed legislation that would end family reunions for migrants with a protection status that falls short of asylum. Once again, this would require AfD backing to pass, but it would also need the approval of the parliament’s upper house, which is doubtful.

The latest parliamentary moves have meant that forming a coalition after the election could become more challenging, which would leave Merz looking for the support of the centre-left parties.

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