BERLIN

Conservative opposition leader and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz faced a significant setback in parliament on Friday when his controversial anti-immigration bill was rejected after a heated debate among lawmakers.

Despite collaborating with the far-right AfD party, a move widely condemned by mainstream parties, Christian Democrats' leader Merz failed to gain enough parliamentary support for his proposed hardline measures against irregular migration.

His proposed legislation, titled “Limiting the illegal influx of third-country nationals into Germany,” was defeated with 338 votes in favor and 350 against. Had it passed, it would have marked the first time in modern German history that a far-right party enabled a law's passage.

During the heated parliamentary debate, Social Democrat and Green lawmakers sharply criticized Merz for advancing the draft bill, warning that relying on the far-right AfD party's support would undermine democracy. A proposal by Social Democrats and Greens to return the bill to committee review and avoid a contentious vote was also rejected by the Christian Democrats.

The outcome of the vote has been a serious blow to chancellor hopeful Merz, who faced intense criticism this week for abandoning the CDU/CSU's longstanding policy of non-cooperation with the AfD, just three weeks before the Feb. 23 elections.

Around a dozen lawmakers from the CDU/CSU group broke ranks and did not vote for Merz's controversial anti-immigration bill.

The Christian Democrats had previously maintained a strict policy of non-cooperation with the AfD at all levels of government. The party's leadership had repeatedly said the CDU/CSU would not form any coalition with the AfD following the federal elections.

The AfD party, which campaigns on an anti-immigration platform, has drawn widespread condemnation for xenophobic, antisemitic and Islamophobic statements by its members. German intelligence authorities have been monitoring several AfD branches and its youth wing since 2021 due to concerns about their anti-democratic leanings and ties to right-wing extremist groups.

- CDU/CSU leads pre-election polls

Recent polls show the CDU/CSU bloc, under conservative leader Merz, maintaining a strong lead in voter support.

According to Thursday's INSA poll, the Christian Democrats hold 29% of voter support, down one percentage point from last week. However, even with this lead, Merz would still require a coalition partner to form a government.

The far-right AfD stands at 22%, followed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) at 17%, after gaining 1.5 percentage points. The Greens remain comfortably above the parliamentary threshold at 13%.

In the race for parliamentary representation, the left-wing populist BSW has secured 6%, while both the socialist Die Linke and the liberal FDP trail at 4% – below the required 5% threshold for parliamentary entry.