Official election results as announced by the German Federal Returning Officer

Merz Proposes Permanent Border Controls and Entry Ban on First Day as Chancellor, Seeks AfD Support

Jan 24, 2025, 09:51 AM

Friedrich Merz, the CDU's candidate for German chancellor, has announced plans to implement strict migration policies should he win the upcoming federal election on February 23, 2025. In response to a recent knife attack in Aschaffenburg by an Afghan asylum seeker, Merz stated he would order permanent border controls and a de facto entry ban for individuals without valid travel documents on his first day in office. He emphasized that these measures would apply even to those seeking asylum. Merz's stance has sparked a significant political debate, with the CDU/CSU parliamentary group planning to introduce motions on migration policy in the Bundestag next week. These motions are intended to be passed regardless of who supports them, including potentially the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, despite Merz's previous refusal to collaborate with them. The CDU's five-point plan includes permanent border controls, national entry centers for asylum procedures, regular deportations, diplomatic pressure for repatriation, and oversight of mentally ill asylum seekers. This move has led to criticism and warnings from other political parties, including the SPD and the Greens, who are concerned about the implications of working with the AfD. The CDU/CSU currently holds 196 seats in the Bundestag, while the AfD has 76 seats, and the FDP, which recently left the government, holds 90 seats in the 733-seat Bundestag.