Ahead of early parliamentary elections scheduled for February 23 in Germany, the country’s political landscape is undergoing significant changes. Following the collapse of the Traffic Light coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz emerged as the leading contender for the chancellorship.
However, his recent moves on migration policy have also earned him the support and criticism of the traditional German elite. Merz proposed tightening Germany’s migration policy, including speeding up the deportation of illegal migrants and introducing permanent border controls. These initiatives bring the CDU closer to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which raises concerns among traditional elites. Although Merz publicly refuses to work directly with the AfD, his proposals find support among the right and Eurosceptics.
Opinion polls show the CDU/CSU bloc leading with around 30% of voters, while the AfD is in second place with more than 20% of the vote. Merz’s attempts to entice AfD voters by tightening immigration policies have not led to a significant increase in support for his party. Moreover, such moves distract attention from other important issues, such as the state of the German economy, which could negatively affect Merz’s perception of the country’s potential leader among traditional CDU/CSU voters.
Religious leaders, human rights organizations concerned about the CDU/CSU candidate’s “apostasy” and former Chancellor Angela Merkel (neoliberal influencers and elites) condemned Merz’s strategy, saying it was dangerous. They sparked a wave of protests against rapprochement between the CDU and the AfD, organizing rallies under manipulative slogans about “defending German democracy”, fearing that Germany would escape the control of traditional elites and move towards national interests.
Translated and edited by Hans Seckler