German Election Favorite Presses Bill With Far-Right Support

(Bloomberg) -- German conservative leader Friedrich Merz pressed ahead with tough migration legislation backed by the far right, despite protests that have splintered the country just three weeks before a national election.

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The front-runner for chancellor brushed aside concerns, blaming mainstream rivals for refusing to cooperate. A vote on the controversial bill — dubbed the “influx-limiting law” — is due later Friday and is expected to need the support of the AfD to pass.

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The debate was delayed by a last-ditch effort to hash out a compromise that could be supported by Germany’s political establishment. Despite the drama of four hours of frantic behind-the-scenes talks, Merz insisted on proceeding with the vote on legislation aimed at clamping down on irregular migration, even though the law will likely be blocked by the upper house of parliament.

“Think of those who are watching us today, who are concerned about the stability of our democracy,” Merz, head of the Christian Democratic Union, said during the debate. “But there are at least as many who are concerned about the security and internal order of our country.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and the co-ruling Greens have denounced the bill as unconstitutional and say it contravenes European law. Rolf Muetzenich, head of the SPD caucus, pointed to broad criticism of the CDU’s proposals, including warnings of Christian church leaders.

“There is a risk that with the votes with the AfD, law and order will be altered and Germany will step out of the European center,” Muetzenich said in a fiery speech. “We can still close the gate to hell together.”

Aside from the content of the legislation, the controversy centers around how the process could redraw the political map and weaken the so-called firewall that’s meant to keep the AfD in check.

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What Our Analysts Say:

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling in second place ahead of elections next month and its success is already threatening efforts to maintain a firewall to keep it away from power

— Martin Ademmer (Economist), Antonio Barroso (Analyst) and Jamie Rush (Economist). Click here for the full report.

For Merz, the move is a high-risk gambit. After a recent deadly attack in Bavaria, where the suspect is rejected asylum seeker from Afghanistan — the CDU leader is betting that his hard-line on irregular migration will help neutralize the appeal of the AfD, which is second in the polls. But relying on the taboo-breaking support of the far-right party could create a backlash from moderate voters.

Support for Merz’s conservative bloc fell one point from the previous week to 29%, according to an INSA poll for the Bild newspaper that was published Thursday. The AfD was stable at 22%, while the SPD gained 1.5 points to 17% and the Greens rose half a point at 13%.

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Friday’s vote in the lower house of parliament marks the second time this week that CDU-led conservatives relied on the AfD. A related non-binding resolution was adopted on Wednesday, the first time since World War II that a mainstream party relied on a far-right group to clinch a parliamentary majority.

Across the country, tens of thousands of Germans protested against the CDU/CSU’s flirtation with the far-right. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel also made a rare foray into current politics by sharply criticizing Merz over breaking his word and accepting the AfD’s support.

The controversial moves raise questions over the makeup of governing coalitions after the Feb. 23 ballot. The Bundestag debate on Friday revealed clear fractures between the parties. With a large rift appearing to open between the conservatives and the Greens and the SPD.

Scholz has warned that Merz could form a coalition with the AfD after the federal election. In an interview with a podcast with the Zeit newspaper, the Social Democrat said such an alliance could become a reality if centrist parties struggle to find common ground. Merz reiterated on Friday that he wouldn’t do that.

“The way has been cleared into the heart of our democracy” for the AfD, said Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister from the Greens “These images reverberate in Germany and throughout Europe.”

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--With assistance from Kamil Kowalcze.

(Updates with analyst quote, Baerbock comment in last paragraph.)

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