The German parliament has narrowly rejected a contentious bill aimed at restricting immigration, proposed by opposition conservatives and supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Opposition leader Friedrich Merz introduced the bill, emphasizing a more restrictive migration policy as a key component of his campaign. The vote concluded with 350 against and 338 in favor, alongside five abstentions, following prolonged and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations for a compromise among mainstream parties.
The rejection averted what would have been an unprecedented occurrence in modern German history—a law passing with far-right backing. The proposal faced widespread criticism from both the public and political figures, who argued it compromised the established "firewall" against far-right party influence. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel notably criticized Merz's decision, labeling it as "wrong".
Thousands gathered outside the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) headquarters in Berlin to protest against the bill. Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, described the outcome as a "bitter defeat" for Merz and his CDU leadership. The debate surrounding the bill was notably heated, marked by long attempts to broker a middle ground that ultimately failed.
The governing Social Democrats and Greens emerged as the principal opponents of the proposed immigration restrictions. Their stance highlights a significant divide between Merz's bloc and their remaining coalition partners. This divide could influence future coalition formations, as Merz’s bloc may need to align with the Social Democrats and Greens following the upcoming snap elections, scheduled for February 23.
The CDU/CSU in Bavaria had previously passed a non-binding motion advocating for an immigration crackdown, gaining AfD support. The proposed legislation was a reaction to a recent deadly knife attack by a rejected asylum-seeker, intensifying the debate on immigration policy.
"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." – Annalena Baerbock
In response to the rejection, Merz remarked on the need for unity within political discourse.
"People out there … don’t want us to argue with each other about AfD," – Friedrich Merz
"They want us to reach solutions to the questions with which people concern themselves in their everyday lives, and above all, we want to reach solutions so that people in our country can feel safe again," – Friedrich Merz
