Overview

• The CDU's recent Bundestag vote on stricter migration policies, supported by the AfD, has drawn widespread protests and political backlash across Germany.
• Former CDU member Michel Friedman announced his resignation, citing the vote as a 'catastrophic breach' of democratic principles and a normalization of far-right politics.
• Prominent figures, including Holocaust survivor Albrecht Weinberg, criticized the CDU's actions, with some returning honors in protest of the perceived alignment with the AfD.
• Friedrich Merz defended the vote, emphasizing the urgency of addressing migration concerns but reiterated that he seeks no formal cooperation with the AfD.
• Chancellor Scholz and other critics argue the CDU's actions undermine long-standing democratic norms, complicating potential post-election coalitions.