German parliament voted down a bill proposed by Friedrich Merz, the leading candidate for the next chancellorship, to make immigration controls tighter. Merz’s bill had gained support from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), but the motion was voted down by 350 to 338 votes, with five abstentions. The vote came after the AfD supported a similar non-binding motion earlier in the week, which led to widespread protest because of concerns over the erosion of Germany’s political “firewall” separating mainstream politics from the far-right.
The bill, dubbed the “influx limitation law,” sought to impose stricter immigration policies in response to rising concerns over security and high-profile crimes committed by individuals with immigrant backgrounds. Merz argued that the law was essential for national security, but it faced opposition from both the left and factions of his own Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). Opposition from members of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and former coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP) led to behind-the-scenes negotiations before the bill was brought for debate.
Tensions had risen at parliament, with some MPs protesters, including a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor, opposing the bill for what they see as an alignment with the far-right faction. The whole affair has been likened to that of Germany’s Weimar Republic, with SPD chairman Rolf Mutzenich warning that failure to isolate the AfD faction can lead to erosion of the German democratic system.
In recent polls, it is indicated that more Germans now accept permanent border controls. In fact, the impact of the AfD has already sparked protest riots in Germany and at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. More heated national debate over political prospects in Germany continues.
