Friedrich Merz Faces Criticism Over Migration Policy and EU Leadership Vision

The CDU candidate defends his migration stance and calls for stronger EU leadership, while protests and party unity mark the German election campaign.

• Friedrich Merz's recent migration policies, including a controversial parliamentary vote supported by the AfD, have drawn widespread criticism and sparked protests across Germany involving hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.
• Merz emphasized the need for Germany to take a leading role in the European Union, calling for closer cooperation with France and Poland and advocating for collective European action in response to U.S. policies under President Donald Trump.
• Despite internal party tensions, the CDU/CSU has shown remarkable unity, with Merz receiving strong backing from his party colleagues ahead of the Bundestag elections.
• The CDU's migration stance has shifted significantly under Merz's leadership, reflecting a more restrictive approach compared to Angela Merkel's policies during the 2015 refugee crisis.
• Recent polls indicate a slight increase in support for the CDU, with Merz gaining personal popularity, though concerns remain about the potential long-term impact of his alignment with far-right votes on the party's image.

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