Favorite to be next German chancellor loses bid to use AfD support to push through immigration law, after days of turmoil over weakening of Germany’s “firewall.”
BERLIN — Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor, suffered a major political defeat on Friday as a controversial migration bill backed by conservatives was rejected in the Bundestag.
Merz had earlier declared his willingness to push through the draft law to restrict migration even with support from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a move that weakened Germany’s so-called firewall against the far right and sparked a fierce pre-election debate that struck at the heart of the country’s postwar identity.
The draft bill, which sought to impose stricter immigration controls, failed in a narrow vote — 338 in favor, 350 against — marking a significant blow to Merz’s leadership and election strategy just weeks before Germany’s federal vote on Feb. 23.
In a passionate debate ahead of the vote, center-left lawmakers warned that the conservative acceptance of far-right support for the draft law would badly scar Germany’s democracy.
“The original sin will follow you forever,” Rolf Mützenich, parliamentary leader for the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), warned conservatives, before urging Merz and his allies to change course and reject the AfD’s help. “The gates of hell, we can still close together,” he said.
This story is being updated.
