Thousands of people gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against a proposed German immigration crackdown plan. The proposal, backed by opposition conservatives and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), aims to limit immigration and restrict family reunifications for some refugees.
The plan was sponsored by Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which is tipped to win the national election on February 23. However, his party’s deputies refused to support the proposal, dealing a blow to Merz’s authority.
Mainstream German parties have previously joined forces to prevent the AfD from achieving legislative power, citing it as a “firewall” against the far-right. Two-thirds of the public support stronger immigration rules, according to a recent poll.
The protest was not an isolated incident, with similar demonstrations taking place in other cities across Germany, including Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Leipzig. The opposition argues that the proposal would not have stopped high-profile killings in public spaces by people with an immigrant background and violates European law.
The plan’s backers, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens, claim it is necessary to address security concerns but are met with skepticism by protesters. The future of the proposal remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: opposition to the immigration crackdown has united Germans across party lines.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/tens-thousands-protest-berlin-against-proposed-german-immigration-crackdown-2025-02-02