Defeat for Merz

Red-Green blockade: German asylum turnaround fails

A political setback for CDU leader and candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag on Friday.(Bild: AFP)

A domestic political bombshell in Germany: the CDU/CSU's draft bill for a stricter migration policy failed its second reading in the Bundestag on Friday. The SPD and Greens blocked the project. 

The vote was on the CDU/CSU's draft for an "influx limitation law" on asylum and refugee policy.

350 no votes against 338 yes votes
In the second reading, there was no majority after a roll-call vote. According to Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau, there were 338 votes in favor, 350 against and five abstentions. This meant that the third reading with the final vote was omitted. On Wednesday, the CDU motion - with the help of the AfD - had still achieved a majority, which sparked outrage.

The German Bundestag on Friday afternoon(Bild: AP/The Associated Press)

Leftists storm CDU building with torches
Before the vote on Friday, left-wing extremists stormed a CDU office. The rioters climbed onto the balcony of the office in Hanover. There they hung up protest posters and set off Bengal flares and hand flares. Access to the property was also blocked. The police arrived. 

Emotional debate
Meanwhile, there were emotional debates in the Bundestag. The match was: CDU/CSU and FDP against SPD and Greens. And all against the AfD. Union chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz insisted on a vote on Friday. After the vote, he blamed the Red-Greens for the rejection of his bill. Merz: "The asylum turnaround has failed because of the Social Democrats and the Greens." 

Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) has defended the controversial migration law and at the same time rejected accusations of collaboration with the AfD.(Bild: AFP)

Merz appeal to SPD and Greens unsuccessful
Merz defended the introduction of the draft "influx limitation law". In the view of many people, there is a need for action after the attacks in Magdeburg and Aschaffenburg, also because of "daily gang rapes from the asylum milieu". The SPD and the Greens should agree to the draft law, he explained.

Merz also rejected the accusation that the CDU/CSU was working with the AfD. "You don't believe that we are reaching out to those who want to destroy us," he said.

New asylum law would have suspended family reunification
The core of the so-called "influx limitation law" is the suspension of family reunification for refugees with restricted protection status. These are often war refugees, for example from Syria. In addition, the powers of the federal police are to be extended. In future, they are to be able to arrange for deportation themselves if they encounter people who are required to leave the country in their area of responsibility - for example at train stations.