Germany’s next chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, has doubled down on tightening the country’s immigration policy as the election campaign enters its final weeks. Speaking to CNN in Berlin, Merz stated his intention to “control [Germany’s] borders and return those who are coming without documents” if elected.
Merz’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) leads the polls with 30% of the vote, but has faced criticism for its stance on migration. The party’s non-binding bill on curbing migration passed, while a more binding “Influx Limitation Act” failed to pass. Merz attributed the failure to his own party members and blamed the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD).
However, an unusual alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) helped push the non-binding bill over the line. Despite this, Merz reiterated that working with the AfD was not an option. He also expressed support for Ukraine and vowed to continue meeting NATO’s 2% defense spending pledge.
As the election approaches, Merz has also taken a stance on US President Donald Trump’s economic measures against European allies. Merz stated that any tariffs placed on the European Union would be handled at “the European level” and echoed Trump’s criticism of the bloc as an “atrocity”. He also expressed support for Ukraine and cooperation with the US to resolve the conflict.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/03/europe/germany-friedrich-merz-immigration-intl-latam/index.html