In a closely contested vote, Germany's parliament blocked a bill proposing stricter migration rules, which had the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The bill, proposed by opposition leader Friedrich Merz, aimed to increase border controls and police powers for deportations. This decision marks a significant political development as it highlights the growing influence of the far-right in German politics.
Germany has blocked a bill calling for tougher rules on migration following a close vote in the country's parliament. The legislation was proposed by the country's opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, who has advocated for stricter migration controls in response to a series of high-profile killings committed by individuals with immigrant backgrounds.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that his party, the Social Democrats, and the Greens, their partners in the minority government, would vote against the proposal. However, the bill garnered support from both Germany's conservative parties and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). If the bill had been successful, it would have marked the first time in Germany's post-war history that its parliament had passed legislation with the backing of a far-right party. The bill proposed that Germany should turn back a significantly larger number of migrants at its borders and would have granted police enhanced powers to carry out deportations. This decision follows a non-binding motion on the same topic that passed thanks to the AfD on Wednesday. Centre-left parties have accused opposition leader Mr. Merz of violating a political consensus to avoid collaborating with the AfD, which first entered parliament in 2017. Germany is scheduled to hold a general election on February 23rd, and the Christian Democratic Union, comprising the CDU and CSU, is currently polling at approximately 30%. The AfD holds second place with around 20%, while the Social Democrats and Greens stand at about 16% and 14% respectively. Mr. Scholz has suggested that Mr. Merz can no longer be trusted not to form a government with the AfD - a claim Mr. Merz strongly denies. Germany is enduring its third consecutive year of recession. Europe's largest economy contracted by 0.2% during 2024, following a 0.3% contraction in 2023. Meanwhile, Elon Musk recently made a surprise appearance at a far-right campaign event in Germany, urging supporters to move beyond their 'past guilt'
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