Germany's Parliament in Chaos After Far-Right Asylum Vote

January 31, 2025: Germany’s Bundestag erupted in chaos after the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) passed a controversial motion on asylum policy with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The vote marked the first time in Germany’s modern parliamentary history that a proposal backed by the AfD, a party long isolated in national politics, successfully passed.

The motion, which calls for tighter asylum restrictions and stricter border controls, is non-binding, meaning it does not have the force of law. However, its passage has political significance, signaling a potential shift in Germany’s migration policies. CDU leader Friedrich Merz, a frontrunner for Germany’s next chancellor, defended the move, arguing that stricter migration controls are necessary to maintain public security, especially after a recent deadly attack involving a rejected asylum seeker.

The vote immediately triggered outrage among Germany’s ruling coalition, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP). Government officials accused the CDU of breaking a long-standing political firewall by indirectly aligning with the AfD. The SPD and Greens denounced the decision as a dangerous normalization of far-right influence in policymaking.

Public reaction was swift. Protests erupted across major German cities, with tens of thousands marching against the vote, warning of a rightward shift in German politics. Several actors, musicians, and public figures signed an open letter condemning the decision, urging politicians to uphold democratic values and resist extremism.

Merz and the CDU leadership rejected claims that they cooperated with the AfD, insisting they did not seek far-right support but refused to withdraw the motion simply because the AfD backed it. Critics argue that this marks a turning point, where mainstream conservatives are willing to accept far-right votes to push their agenda forward.

The fallout could reshape Germany’s political landscape before the next federal elections. The CDU may gain support from voters demanding more authoritarian migration policies, while opponents will likely intensify their warnings about the rise of far-right influence in mainstream politics.