The former German Foreign Minister Angela Merkel has criticized Friedrich Merz, her successor at the head of the country’s conservatives, for promoting proposals on migration and asylum with the support of the Ultra -rightist AFD.
In an unusual intervention since he left politics in December 2021, Merkel said Merz, a favorite to become the next German chancellor, had taken a 180 -degree turn.
On its websiteremember that Merz, head of the center-right coalition CDU/CSU, had said in November that he was against approved policies with the support of the rejected AFD, even if it was for “accident”.
Merkel has also said that she was firm in the conviction that there should never be links between the majority parties and the AFD.
“This position was an expression of great political responsibility, which supports fully,” said the conservative ex -chancellor and said: “I think it is a mistake to stop feeling linked to this political position and thus allow, for the first time, a majority with the votes of the AFD in a vote in the German Bundestag on January 29, 2025 ”.
In this context, Merkel pointed out in his statement that it is necessary that the “democratic parties” act “together, beyond political borders”, without “tactical maneuvers” and with a “moderate and basis tone on the basis of existing European law” .
Wednesday’s vote was not precedents. For the first time, the AFD, second in the surveys for the February 23 elections, was decisive to help a majority party to reach the parliamentary majority. The FDP Liberal Party also contributed to the success of the motion.
According to the approved, non -binding text, some immigrants and asylum seekers could be rejected on the German border, as well as more easily deported from Germany.
Merz, who became leader of the CDU in December 2021, has always been openly contrary to the so -called open doors of Merkel, by virtue of which around one million migrants entered Germany in 2015, stating that “It should not allow it to happen again.”
In his recent memories, Merkel, who had stopped in the past Merz’s rise within the CDU, said “did not envy” his former chancellor, stating that he recognized in him the “unconditional desire to have power” , necessary to assume the position.
Saskia Esken, a collide of the Social Democrats, praised Merkel for his comments published Thursday. “She feels the need to remind Friedrich Merz for his political responsibility,” he told Die Zeit: “I am very grateful.”
Merz had said before the vote that was reluctantly open to the idea that his proposal would only succeed if he received the support of the AFD. After the vote, he continued to affirm that he had no intention of working with the AFD. But he faced generalized criticisms for what some described as rupture of the “sanitary cord”, according to which the majority parties have pledged not to cooperate or ally with the AFD.
In his speech, he said: “I want to repeat (…) that I don’t look for another majority other than the democratic center of our Parliament.” And he said that he “regretted” that such a majority would not have been possible, which caused mocking laughs and boos from the spd seats, the greens and the left -wing party Die Linke.
Merz has faced the criticism of the SPD and the Greens, the components of the Olaf Scholz minority government, for not trying to achieve a commitment to them after they put proposals for migratory reform that, they say, have been ignored largely by the opposition.
For its part, the AFD, which has described the “sanitary cord” of antidemocratic and that seeks a coalition with the CDU/CSU, has celebrated what a victory and a sign that it can no longer be ignored.
The most cited response in the German media by AFD from the vote was that of deputy Bernd Baumann, who said: “This is truly a historical moment … Mr. Merz, you helped to occur and now you are here with the Trembling knees, trembling and apologizing, “he said, before declaring:” Here and now a new era begins. ”
In the face of the anticipated general elections of February 23, Cristianodemocratas lead the latest voting intention surveys, as up to 30% of the support of the electorate is attributed, above AFD, to which up to 23% is attributed to 23% In the polls, EFE reports.
In these surveys, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the formation of Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz, would obtain between 15 % and 16 %, while the greens are seen between 12.5 % and 14 %.
According to these polls, Alianza Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the Liberal Party (FDP) – which on Wednesday also contributed to the approval of the motion of the CDU/CSU – could exceed little the barrier of 5 % necessary to achieve parliamentary representation or they would stay close to reaching that percentage.
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