German election front-runner Friedrich Merz has vowed that his party will “never” work with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), following criticism over a motion he put to parliament last week. Merz, leader of the Center-right opposition Union bloc, had been accused of breaking a taboo on dealing with the AfD.
However, Merz denies any wrongdoing and insists that his position remains unchanged. He claims that his party will not form an alliance with the AfD, which is currently in second place in polls. Instead, he points to the center-left governing parties for being unwilling to approve changes to migration rules.
Merz’s stance on immigration has been a major focus of the election campaign. He has called for stricter border controls and promised to “make Germany small again.” The governing parties have accused him of breaking his word, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggesting that Merz can no longer be trusted not to form a government with the AfD.
Merz remains resolute in his stance, saying that he will not compromise on his position. His party’s commitment to a tougher approach to migration has been a key factor in their lead in polls ahead of the February 23 election.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/germany-merz-election-far-right-afd-ee33d1339f9bc0dc45703d5f880a1a70