German Conservative Chancellor Hopeful Suffers Blow in Migration Law Vote
Friedrich Merz’s chances of becoming Germany’s next chancellor suffered a significant blow on Friday when 12 of his own legislators refused to back him in supporting a migration bill, leading to its failure in parliament. The law, which aimed to restrict family reunifications for some refugees and increase border rejections, was supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Merz had caused controversy within his conservative bloc for suggesting he would pass the bill with support from the AfD, a move that has been widely criticized. This decision led to Merz losing the backing of his own party members in the vote, dealing a blow to his leadership credentials.
The failure of the migration bill is seen as a setback for Merz’s chances of becoming chancellor and a sign of deep divisions within the conservative bloc. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens have criticized the proposals, saying they would not have stopped recent attacks on public spaces by people with an immigrant background and violate European law.
Merz had argued that the bill was necessary in response to these attacks, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD has warned that the country cannot “capitulate to the empty promises of the far right.” The AfD has criticized Merz for failing to gather enough support for the bill, with leader Alice Weidel stating that he lacks the ability to lead as chancellor.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/migration-law-gamble-backfires-germanys-conservative-chancellor-hopeful-2025-01-31