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Merz's Five-Point Migration Plan Passes with AfD Support, Breaking Bundestag 'Brandmauer'

Jan 29, 2025, 04:41 PM

Germany's Bundestag has passed a non-binding motion calling for stricter migration policies, including increased border controls and turning back asylum seekers, as part of a five-point plan proposed by Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition CDU/CSU party and leading candidate in the upcoming snap election. The motion was passed with a narrow majority of 348 to 345 votes, with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP). This marks the first time since 1949 that a motion has been passed with votes from the AfD, breaking the 'Brandmauer' or firewall between mainstream parties and the far right. The move comes in the wake of recent violent attacks in Aschaffenburg and Magdeburg involving asylum seekers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz sharply criticized Merz for collaborating with the AfD, calling it an 'unforgivable mistake' and accusing him of 'flirting with far-right forces.' The decision has ignited intense debate across Germany's political spectrum, with some viewing it as a necessary step to address migration issues, while others see it as a dangerous precedent.