Janice R. Andrews
Germany’s longstanding refusal to work with far-right parties is showing cracks amid heated debates over immigration. Opposition chief Friedrich Merz recently indicated he would accept support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to advance tougher immigration measures, breaking with decades of political tradition.
The announcement drew sharp criticism from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called it an “unforgivable mistake.” The controversy emerges just weeks before Germany’s February elections and follows a tragic incident where a child was fatally stabbed, with an Afghan asylum seeker named as the suspect.
Merz’s conservative CDU-CSU bloc, currently outpacing Scholz’s Social Democrats in polls, is pushing for enhanced border security and immigration restrictions. His willingness to advance immigration bills with potential AfD backing marks a significant shift. The AfD, now commanding over 20% support, celebrated this development, with their leader Alice Weidel declaring the end of political isolation.
Scholz emphasized Germany’s post-war commitment to shunning far-right collaboration, as public demonstrations erupted against the potential alliance. Critics argue that Merz’s strategy could strengthen the AfD’s position before the upcoming vote.
This potential cooperation between mainstream conservatives and the AfD represents a watershed moment that could fundamentally alter Germany’s political landscape and its handling of immigration policy.
