BERLIN — Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Berlin to protest what they see as a breach of a taboo in post-war German politics.
The protests came after some parties voted alongside the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), over a non-binding resolution on immigration last week.
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, who is tipped to be Germany's next chancellor, had tried to rely on support from AfD twice last week,
Merz had presented parliament with proposals for stricter immigration policies, which were supported by the far-right AfD in parts.
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany to protest against Merz's candidacy in the February 25 election. In Berlin alone, an estimated 160,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the Reichstag on Sunday morning, according to police reports.
Angry protesters in Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Leipzig accused Merz and his Christian Democrats of breaking Germany’s long-standing commitment—upheld by all democratic parties—not to pass legislation in parliament with the support of far-right and nationalist parties.
On Wednesday, Merz introduced a non-binding motion in parliament, calling for Germany to turn away significantly more migrants at its borders. The motion was narrowly approved, thanks to backing from the AfD.
The AfD first entered the Bundestag in 2017, gaining traction after then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision two years earlier to welcome a large influx of migrants into the country.
A year ago, hundreds of thousands protested in weeks-long demonstrations across Germany against the rise of the far right and alleged plans to deport millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship.
Merz has sought to position his center-right alliance—which includes the Bavaria-based CSU—as tough on irregular migration.
However, on Friday, the Bundestag narrowly rejected a draft law calling for stricter immigration regulations. If passed, it would have marked the first time a law was approved with the backing of the right-wing AfD. Despite its failure, the bill has ignited controversy over Merz’s stance on potential collaboration with the far right.
Demonstrators and left-wing politicians have accused Merz of breaking a political taboo and weakening the so-called "firewall" that mainstream parties have maintained against the AfD. Merz, however, insists that his stance remains unchanged and that he has neither collaborated with the AfD nor intends to.
Hundreds of demonstrators temporarily blocked CDU offices in multiple cities, while up to 20,000 people joined a mass rally in Berlin on Sunday afternoon.
In Cologne, protesters staged a demonstration on the Rhine, with 350 boats forming a symbolic blockade in front of the city's iconic cathedral. Demonstrators held banners reading "No Racism" and "For Democracy and Diversity," according to the German news agency dpa.
Polls indicate that Merz’s center-right bloc, which has championed the migration proposal, leads with around 30% of the vote, while the AfD follows at approximately 20%. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens trail further behind.
Merz appears to be betting that his hardline stance on migration will help his party gain support by demonstrating a firm commitment to stricter border controls.
By taking this approach, he hopes to achieve two goals: weaken the appeal of the anti-immigration AfD while portraying the ruling coalition—who claim to have already taken significant action on migration—as out of touch with public concerns. — Agencies
