Thousands of people gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against proposed immigration restrictions backed by opposition conservatives and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The demonstration followed a narrow parliamentary approval of a motion led by Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader and a leading candidate for Germany’s next chancellor in the upcoming national election on February 23. The proposal sought to tighten border controls and reduce the number of migrants entering the country, sparking outrage among critics who accused Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of breaching a long-standing taboo against collaborating with the far right.
The nonbinding motion—known in Germany as a “vorschlag” or “entschließungsantrag”—calls for permanent border checks, rejection of asylum seekers who arrive illegally, and the detention of foreigners whose return is required under the law. It also calls for tightening laws against criminal foreigners and those deemed to pose a threat to society and labels existing European migration rules as “clearly dysfunctional.”
Merz, who is a former corporate lawyer and a member of parliament from Bavaria, rushed the vote after a deadly knife attack last week in the city of Aschaffenburg by a rejected Afghan asylum-seeker that left two people dead and a 2-year-old boy injured. He put migration at the forefront of his agenda because he wanted to show voters that his center-right Union bloc, which leads in polls ahead of the election, would take firmer measures on migration than the governing Social Democrats and Greens.
However, a day before the parliament’s decision, the AfD’s leader, Bernd Pudel, warned that if the proposal was passed, it would lead to an “unprecedented regressive and racist policy” and said his party was “not interested in negotiating with a party like this.” The motion was ultimately approved by 350 votes to 338, including five abstentions. Some lawmakers cheered and clapped when it was announced.
The debate was particularly heated because the AfD, which has a parliamentary presence through coalition partners, has long sought to enter the mainstream of German politics. In the past, it has used its support in parliament to block proposals to reform Germany’s constitution and other legislation that it deems anti-democratic. It also opposes any moves to limit the influence of the country’s Jewish community. The far-right party is vehemently opposed to abortion rights, gay marriage, and the federal government’s efforts to combat the scourge of domestic violence. It has gained popularity among disillusioned voters who feel that the mainstream parties have failed to address their concerns about immigration and other social issues. It has also gained support for its views on economics, climate change, and Europe. In its manifesto, the AfD states that it is committed to defending German interests and that European Union policies will not guide it. It is also against NATO and the European Union’s common currency, the euro.