Massive Protests Erupt in Germany Over CDU's Collaboration with Far-Right AfD
Friedrich Merz faces backlash after breaking a post-WWII political taboo by aligning with the AfD on immigration policies ahead of critical elections.
- Between 160,000 and 250,000 demonstrators gathered in Berlin to protest CDU leader Friedrich Merz's recent cooperation with the far-right AfD in the Bundestag.
- Merz leveraged AfD support to pass a non-binding motion on immigration but failed to secure votes for a stricter immigration law, sparking controversy across the political spectrum.
- The move shattered Germany's long-standing 'cordon sanitaire,' which historically prevented mainstream parties from collaborating with far-right groups.
- Prominent critics, including former Chancellor Angela Merkel and current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, condemned Merz's actions, with Merkel calling it an 'error' and Scholz warning of potential future CDU-AfD alliances.
- The protests, which also saw significant turnout in other German cities, emphasized the public's commitment to defending democratic principles and rejecting extremism.
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