Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against a controversial immigration bill proposed by Germany’s opposition conservatives (CDU/CSU) and supported by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Around 160,000 people, according to Berlin police, rallied at the Brandenburg Gate near the Bundestag, brandishing banners such as “We are the firewall – no cooperation with the AfD” and “Merz, go home – shame on you!”
The draft legislation, spearheaded by CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz – a frontrunner to become chancellor after February’s national election – sought to restrict family reunifications for some refugees and expand border rejections. It marked a rare instance of cooperation between mainstream conservatives and the AfD.
Political backlash and public sentiment
Merz’s push to pass the bill in the Bundestag on Friday collapsed after members of his own party refused to endorse it, dealing a blow to his authority. Critics within the CDU/CSU warned that aligning with the AfD risked tarnishing the party’s reputation. Mainstream German parties have long upheld a “firewall” policy to isolate the AfD from legislative influence.
The proposed crackdown followed a series of high-profile crimes allegedly committed by individuals with migrant backgrounds. Merz argued the measures were necessary for public safety, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens dismissed the bill as ineffective and incompatible with EU law.
While a recent poll indicated two-thirds of Germans support stricter immigration rules, the protests underscored deep divisions over the CDU/CSU’s strategy. Demonstrations also erupted in cities like Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Leipzig on Saturday, with crowds condemning both the bill and the conservatives’ alliance with the AfD.
The backlash highlights growing tensions over immigration policy ahead of February’s election, as Merz seeks to appeal to voters demanding tougher controls. However, his gambit has exposed rifts within his party and reinvigorated public resistance to normalising AfD influence.
As Germany grapples with balancing security concerns and humanitarian obligations, the protests signal a warning to politicians flirting with populist alliances.
