Berlin witnessed a series of protests on Sunday as thousands gathered to oppose proposed immigration restrictions led by Friedrich Merz and co-sponsored by backed by the German far-right party: Alternative for Germany.
Around 160,000 people rallied at the Brandenburg Gate against the controversial bill led by the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, and a frontrunner for Germany’s next chancellor in the 23 February election.
Political Fallout and Public Backlash
Merz’s push for the immigration bill, which proposed stricter family uniting policies and increased border security, faced strong opposition.
Merz’s decision to align with the AfD marked a departure from the mainstream parties’ policy of avoiding cooperation with the group, which is under surveillance by Germany’s security services.
Despite his efforts, Merz failed to secure enough votes in the Bundestag on Friday with some of his own party voting with the opposition. This failure damaged his credibility and exposed internal CDU-CSU divisions.
Protesters carried banners reading, “We are the firewall; no cooperation with the AfD,” and “Merz, go home; shame on you"!
Protests and Political Repercussions
Demonstrations extended beyond Berlin, with tens of thousands protesting in Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Leipzig.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens strongly opposed the bill, arguing it would not have prevented recent violent incidents and violated European law.
Scholz distrusted Merz, stating, “I can’t trust him anymore.”
SPD parliamentary leader Katja Mast added, “He has no integrity or reliability. Someone like that should not be allowed to lead this country.”
Coalition Talks Complicated
With the election approaching, Merz’s gamble could hinder coalition negotiations given recent polling.
The CDU-CSU, polling at around 30%, will likely join forces with the SPD (polling at 15%) or the Greens (polling at 14%) to form a ruling coalition. Merz’s alignment with the AfD has created deep mistrust, making negotiations more challenging.
King’s College London lecturer Alexander Clarkson predicted coalition talks would be "more protracted than usual and could be very fraught."
Political instability could also benefit the AfD, which is polling at 22%.
Merz Is Playing With Fire: Divided Centrist Politics
Merz justified his bill as a response to violent crimes involving residents with immigrant backgrounds.
Critics argue that linking crime to immigration is a divisive tactic that risks empowering the far-right rather than addressing public safety concerns.
While two-thirds of Germans support stricter immigration laws; the protests strongly resist policies closely aligned with the AfD.
Political analysts warn that making immigration a central issue may inadvertently strengthen the AfD and left-leaning parties like the SPD and Greens, who position themselves as the main opposition to the far-right.
The immediate impact on voter sentiment remains uncertain. Some polls show a slight increase for the AfD, while others report no significant change.
Whatever happens in the upcoming German election, the taboo of working with the AfD has worn off. Election results will reveal whether Germans go to the far right or far left when centrist politics is worn out.
Stay tuned to Daily Euro Times for the latest insights!
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