Friedrich Merz, a frontrunner for Germany’s next chancellor, is making a calculated bet that his country’s voters are not significantly different from those in other European nations. With mainstream parties struggling to isolate rising far-right parties, Merz plans to focus on cracking down on migration rather than upholding the traditional quarantine on the far right.
In doing so, he hopes to appeal to German voters and gain an advantage ahead of the February 23 snap election. This strategic move may ultimately help the conservative party make a stronger case for their stance on immigration, potentially bridging the gap between Germany’s past and present.
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/friedrich-merz-cdu-germany-far-right-afd-nazi-past-election