Germany’s political landscape has been shaken after the Christian Democrats (CDU) pushed through a landmark immigration law with support from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD). The fallout has been swift, with protests erupting and some left-wing groups even calling for a ban on the CDU alongside the AfD.
Thousands gathered outside CDU headquarters in Berlin, with Bild reporting chants demanding both parties be outlawed. This comes despite the CDU and AfD together commanding nearly half of Germany’s electorate.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) condemned the CDU for breaking a long-standing taboo by working with the AfD, stating he could “no longer trust Friedrich Merz.” However, he was cautious about pursuing a formal ban on the AfD, saying such a move would require substantial legal groundwork. While left-wing parties have been advocating for the AfD’s prohibition, Scholz stressed the importance of due process.
The Green Youth organization has also taken aim at the CDU, with co-leader Jakob Blasel declaring, “Conservatives who support Nazis cannot be coalition partners.” Robert Habeck, the Greens’ chancellor candidate, labeled the immigration law’s passage a “turning point” for German politics, accusing Merz of abandoning centrist principles.
Ironically, the CDU’s proposal closely mirrors immigration policies the AfD has long championed but that the CDU had previously refused to support. However, mounting public frustration over violent crimes linked to migrants has forced the CDU’s hand, leading to this dramatic political shift.
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, also expressed disappointment, warning that mainstream parties had “prepared the stage for the AfD” by failing to agree on a common asylum policy.
Merz defended his decision, arguing that blocking the proposal over AfD backing would have been a mistake. “Firewall is the wrong image,” he insisted. “I want the fire behind the wall not to spread across Germany.” His stance contrasts sharply with his November remarks, when he vowed never to rely on AfD votes.
The AfD, for its part, celebrated the moment as a game-changer. “This is truly historic,” said AfD chief whip Bernd Baumann. “The era of red-green dominance is over. A new era begins here and now, and we are leading it!”
