The CDU party chief, who leads in the polls to become the next chancellor, said he would collect votes from all parties to push his five-point migration plan through parliament despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz's strong opposition.

Merz, leader of the Christian Democrats, had sought to restrict immigration rules with the support of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The bill fell short of 12 votes on Friday. Twelve MPs from Merz’s parliamentary group were absent.

With cheers of surprise and shocked faces, Bundestag MPs narrowly rejected a migration bill on Friday pushed by the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and backed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued rare public criticism of her successor as the country’s center-right leader, the front-runner in Germany’s election next month, for putting to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules that only passed with the help of a far-right party.

Tens of thousands have protested across Germany against the center-right leader and front-runner in a Feb. 25 election for sending to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules with support of

The sweat was dripping off Friedrich Merz after the frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor saw his bid to outflank an ascendant far right spectacularly backfire in the Bundestag.

Protesters accuse Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democrats of breaking Germany’s unwritten post-Nazi promise to never pass any rule or resolution in parliament with support of far-right, nationalist