Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) headquarters in Berlin to protest against stricter migration policies that passed with the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The rally, organized by Amnesty International, Seebrücke, and other human rights groups, took place under the slogan “Firewall instead of arson”, condemning what they see as a dangerous shift in German politics.
CDU Pushes Migration Restrictions with AfD Support
The controversial policy, spearheaded by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, aims to tighten border controls and turn away more asylum seekers at Germany’s borders. The proposal has sparked significant criticism, particularly due to its passage being made possible with votes from the far-right AfD.
The migration debate intensified following a knife attack by a rejected Afghan asylum seeker, which resulted in the deaths of a man and a two-year-old child. In response, Merz submitted two motions in parliament advocating for stronger border controls and tougher migration policies.
The motion calling for more rejections of asylum seekers at German borders passed by a narrow vote of 348 to 345, with 10 abstentions. While AfD lawmakers cheered the outcome, Rolf Mützenich, parliamentary leader of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), accused the CDU of breaking away from the political center.
A second motion by CDU-CSU, which proposed broader migration reforms and additional powers for security authorities, was rejected by the majority in parliament.
Political Fallout and Warnings of Far-Right Cooperation
The CDU’s reliance on AfD votes has intensified political tensions in Germany. The party had previously insisted on maintaining a “firewall” against cooperating with the far-right but now faces accusations of normalizing AfD influence in mainstream politics.
“We are shocked because the CDU deliberately pushed a motion through the Bundestag with votes from the AfD. This is a breach of taboo,” said Wiebke Judith, spokesperson for ProAsyl, Germany’s largest pro-immigration advocacy group. “This marks the beginning of the erosion of the firewall that is meant to protect us from authoritarianism and fascism in Germany.”
Defending his stance in parliament, Merz dismissed criticism of AfD’s support, saying: “A right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people agree. It remains right.”
Election Tensions and CDU’s Rising Support
The vote comes at a critical time, just weeks before Germany holds parliamentary elections following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition. Current polls place the CDU at around 30%, making it the leading party, followed by the AfD at 20%. Meanwhile, Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and their coalition partners, the Greens, continue to struggle in the polls.
The CDU’s increasing alignment with tougher migration policies is seen as an attempt to consolidate conservative voters ahead of the elections, but critics warn that cooperation with the AfD could legitimize far-right politics in Germany.
