Friedrich Merz

German Election Earthquake: Establishment Freaks Out as Conservatives Open Door to Passing Migration Reform with ‘Firewalled’ AfD

A row over Germany’s open borders immigration system threatens to upend the political status quo ahead of the February general election, as the leader of Angela Merkel’s former party opened the door to passing restrictions with the help of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, sparking panic among the Berlin establishment.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), right, Olaf Scholz, German