German MPs oppose controversial immigration law

German MPs oppose controversial immigration  law
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The German Bundestag voted against the  "flow restriction law" after  a heated debate. The bill was proposed by the conservative CDU/CSU bloc,  which has been accused of  collaborating with the far-right AfD  party.

Go to next section What you need to know
What you need to know
The law under consideration on Friday would have been legally binding, unlike the motions  for a stricter migration policy passed on Wednesday with the controversial support of the far-right  AfD.
Migration has become a  key campaign issue ahead of  the February  election after a series of attacks by  suspected migrants.
Here is a summary of  the events surrounding the German parliamentary debate and vote on the  "flow restriction law" on Friday, January 31,  2025:
Go to next section Merz  defies despite  Bundestag's rejection of the bill.
Merz  defies despite  Bundestag's rejection of the bill
Chancellor  candidate Friedrich  Merz said he was "very  encouraged" by the support of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU)  party, despite the  parliament's vote against his migration  reform.
German voters now  understand that the CDU  "really wants to change asylum and immigration policy," he  said. "Today it is clear: Merz will do  it." »
Merz, whose conservative bloc  has a comfortable lead in the polls, had already  raised concerns within his party  by saying the legislation was so important  that he was prepared to pass it with  the support of  Germany's far-right Alternative for  the Right (AfD) party. The final results showed that 12  MPs from Merz's CDU/CSU bloc did not vote, but all those present in the Bundestag supported the  bill.
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AfD's Weidel: Bundestag vote on migration  law marks "Merz's dismantling"
The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)  party has  criticized the  CDU/CSU's candidate  for chancellor, Friedrich  Merz, after  his migration reform bill was rejected by  parliament on  Friday.
Alice Weidel said the  German parliament's rejection  would mean "the implosion of a conservative people's party," adding  that "it would be the  dissolution of Friedrich Merz as a candidate for  chancellor."
With German elections on February 23, the far-right AfD is currently second  in the polls, behind Merz's conservative bloc.
Weidel said her party  voted unanimously in favor of the bill. "There are no  dissidents fighting a legitimate cause  behind them," she said.  "Friedrich Merz jumped  on a tiger and ended up as a  bedspread."

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