World Immigration News

Germany’s immigration meltdown The AfD has everything to gain

Release Date: 2025-01-27
Media: UnHerd
Summary: A recent knife attack in Aschaffenburg, Germany, committed by a 28-year-old Afghan man, has reignited the debate over immigration and border controls in Germany, just weeks before the federal elections. Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU opposition, has proposed ending free movement across Germany's borders and introducing stricter border controls. This would challenge the EU's Schengen system and could destabilize European integration. Merz has also suggested reintroducing border controls on his first day if elected, but given Germany's political system, such promises face significant obstacles without a majority or cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The rise of the AfD, now a far-right party with nationalist views, complicates Merz's stance. While he positions himself as a leader pushing for economic and technological reform, his focus on immigration has overshadowed these policies. If Merz cannot form a coalition with centrist parties due to disagreements on immigration, he may have to cooperate with the AfD, a situation that could mirror recent events in Austria, where the ruling People’s Party collapsed its firewall against the far-right.

The situation raises concerns about the EU's future, with some fearing that this could mark the beginning of disintegration if countries start reintroducing border controls. Meanwhile, some see the breakdown of political firewalls as necessary for Germany's political and economic reform, as current policies have stagnated.
Tags: GERMANY

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