German parliament rejects immigration bill backed by far right
Guardian5 days
German Parliament Rejects Conservative Migration Bill
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Above: The co-leaders of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla give a statement after German MPs narrowly voted against a bill to restrict immigration at the lower house of parliament on Jan. 31, 2025, in Berlin. Image copyright: Odd Andersen/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The German parliament (Bundestag) on Friday voted 350-338 to reject an immigration bill supported by the right-wing opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The bill was sponsored by Friedrich Merz, who leads the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) coalition.
The proposed law, dubbed the "Influx Limitation Bill," would have ended family reunions for migrants with protection status below full asylum and granted federal police increased deportation powers, representing a shift in German immigration policy.
The bill's consideration came just days after a controversial non-binding motion on migration passed with support from the AfD, marking the first time in German history that the AfD's votes were decisive in passing legislation, sparking protests in Berlin.
The Spin
Left narrative
Friedrich Merz, whose own party members voted against him, should have known better than to align himself with the far-right, a move that not only backfired but also undermined Germany’s postwar democratic values. His failed immigration bill, tainted by racist rhetoric, sought to scapegoat migrants while pandering to extremists. Germany has no place for laws fueled by xenophobia, and his willingness to erode the firewall is a betrayal of democratic principles.
Right narrative
Despite this setback, Germans are fed up with mass immigration and its link to rising violent crime. Crime data confirms non-Germans are overrepresented in offenses, fueling support for tougher laws. The corrupt, anti-democratic firewall against the right is collapsing as voters reject failed establishment policies. The AfD’s influence will keep growing, and it’s only a matter of time before these laws are passed to restore security and normalcy.
