Leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz (front row L) looks on as his parliamentary group and of the Bavarian conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party applaud while members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) look on during a debate at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) focusing on immigration, on January 31, 2025 in Berlin. Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP.
Berlin: Lawmakers in Germany's parliament Friday opened a debate on a package of harsh immigration measures brought by the conservative opposition and controversially supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The bill came to the Bundestag after the conservative CDU/CSU bloc on Wednesday passed a motion calling for an immigration crackdown with the AfD's support, breaking a long-standing taboo.
Friday's debate began over three hours late as parties held frantic last-minute talks that tried and failed to find a compromise without the far-right party.
