Friedrich Merz, chancellor candidate of Germany’s Christian Democrats, stumbled in his bid to end Social Democrat-Greens domination of migration policy. After winning a Bundestag motion to reinstate border controls with votes of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the chamber rejected a law on to clamp down on migration.
Merz’s use of the AfD drew the ire of ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, his predecessor as CDU leader. Her stunning public stand against Merz may have convinced 12 members of his own bloc to vote against the law. The bill was defeated on Friday with 350 members voting ‘no’ and 338 in favour.
The icy enmity between Merkel and Merz is legendary
“This result creates clarity on where we stand (on migration) and where the SPD and the Greens stand,” Merz said after the vote, adding that reducing migrant numbers would be a priority after the 23 February elections. “The asylum reversal failed today because of the SPD and Greens.
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