In Berlin, Germany, a crowd of 160,000 people protested in the central streets against the implicit alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right AfD party to push a five-point plan against migration. This protest took place following Angela Merkel's criticism of Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU and potential next German chancellor, for establishing ties with the far-right, which was seen as breaking a "sanitary cordon".
During the vote in Parliament, coinciding with a tribute to the Holocaust victims, Albrecht Weimberg, a 99-year-old survivor of an extermination camp, announced his decision to return the medal of the Order of Merit in response to the situation. Amid the shouts of AfD parliamentarians in support of the five points presented by Merz, Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the CDU for tolerating the support of those who undermine democracy and disdain European unity.
Scholz directly questioned Merz, arguing that the alliance with the far-right breaks a historical consensus among democrats in Germany. The demonstration on Sunday saw the participation of citizens concerned about the rise of the AfD, influenced by the backing of Elon Musk, the world's richest man and a member of Donald Trump's government.
Merz's proposal, which includes the automatic detention of migrants who enter the country illegally, indefinite detention prior to deportation, and restrictions on family reunification processes, has sparked intense debate about immigration policy in Germany. Recent polls show an increase in the popularity of the AfD, reaching 23%, surpassing Scholz's social democrats (15%) and trailing behind Merz's CDU support (30%).
Musk's ongoing support for the AfD has contributed to the rise of this party, which promotes a message of "making Germany great again." Immigration is positioned as a central issue in the upcoming elections on February 23, which, in practice, become a referendum on this particular matter and the associated political stances.
