The centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faces intense criticism for proposing stricter migration policies, which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) supported in the Bundestag.

Despite the AfD’s backing, CDU leader Friedrich Merz insists his party will never cooperate with the far-right party. He called the AfD his most important opponent in the upcoming German federal election.

“I assure German voters: we will not work with the AfD—not before, not after, never,” Merz said at the CDU federal party conference in Berlin.

Merz’s migration policy motion passed last Wednesday after AfD votes secured a narrow majority. The decision sparked nationwide protests, with critics accusing the CDU of breaking Germany’s unwritten rule against working with far-right parties.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned Merz’s move, calling it “wrong”. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other critics argue Merz broke his word by allowing AfD votes to push through legislation.

Markus Söder, leader of the CDU’s sister party CSU, also rejected any ties to the AfD. “We will not help the AfD, we will fight it with full determination,” he declared.

Merz, who currently leads in polls ahead of the February 23 election, denies seeking AfD support. He argues that his tougher migration policies reflect public and conservative voter sentiment.

“The old parties have led this country into decline,” said BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht, warning that CDU, CSU, and AfD could dominate the Bundestag by 2029.

Merz dismissed criticism, blaming the ruling centre-left coalition for refusing to support necessary changes to migration laws.

“We face attacks and protests,” Merz said, but emphasized that the CDU must stay the course on migration policy. Scholz, however, insists that Merz can no longer be trusted not to govern alongside the AfD.