German Politics Roiled by CDU's Migration Policy Vote with AfD Support

The CDU's decision to pass a migration policy plan with AfD backing has drawn widespread condemnation, raising concerns about democratic norms and economic impacts.

The CDU's migration policy proposal, backed by the AfD and FDP, narrowly passed in the Bundestag, marking the first time the CDU accepted AfD support for legislation.
Critics, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Green Party leaders, have labeled the move a 'taboo break' and a departure from Germany's postwar democratic consensus.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended the decision, rejecting the term 'Brandmauer' and arguing the party did not coordinate with the AfD but merely sought to advance its policy goals.
Protests erupted across Germany, including demonstrations in Dortmund and Berlin, with activists, political groups, and religious leaders denouncing the perceived normalization of far-right influence.
Economic Minister Robert Habeck warned that the decision could harm Germany's economy by discouraging skilled workers from staying in or moving to the country.