Overview

• Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition CDU, plans to propose legislation to restore permanent border controls and increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers.
• Merz has indicated he would pass the law with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) if necessary, challenging the political firewall against cooperation with the party.
• The proposal follows a deadly knife attack by a rejected Afghan asylum seeker, which has intensified public debate on migration and domestic security ahead of the February 23 snap election.
• Critics, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, argue the plan violates the EU's Schengen Agreement and undermines European unity, with concerns raised over its practicality and legal feasibility.
• The CDU leads current election polls, with migration and security emerging as central campaign issues, though Merz's pivot to the right risks further empowering the AfD, now polling second.