German Conservative Coalition Collaborates with Far-Right Party for the First Time

In a controversial move weeks before the elections, the conservative party coalition in Germany collaborated with the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) to pass a resolution aimed at imposing restrictions on immigration. This resolution, proposed by the "Union" consisting of the two major parties, the "Christian Democratic Union" and the "Christian Social Union", was passed with 348 votes in favor, 344 against, and 10 abstentions, relying on the votes from the AfD and support from the smaller Free Democratic Party. The reliance on AfD votes came despite previous rejections from all parties in the German parliament regarding any collaboration with this party. The German domestic intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, also monitors the AfD as an extremist right-wing organization. This event, described as a "political earthquake" in Germany, has sparked widespread reactions in the country. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously warned his electoral rival, Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union, that any collaboration with the AfD would be an "unforgivable mistake". Following the resolution's passage, Scholz described it as a "bad sign" for the country. He had stated in the Bundestag that "since the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany over 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all democrats in our parliaments: we have no common goal with extremists on the right". The Green Party and Social Democrats had already announced they would not support this resolution. The proposal for this resolution came after an increase in deadly attacks in Germany against citizens, including a recent attack by an Afghan migrant who killed a man and a two-year-old child with a knife. Although the resolution does not have legal executive power, it is described as anti-immigration due to its demands from the government, including permanent border controls, preventing all illegal immigrants from entering regardless of the reason for their entry into Germany, and emphasizing the need for the immediate detention of all illegal immigrants in the country and the construction of more detention facilities for these individuals. Interestingly, the resolution also accuses the AfD of exacerbating "xenophobia" in the country by exploiting issues arising from widespread illegal immigration. Despite these criticisms, the far-right AfD still voted for the resolution, facilitating its passage. Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, praised the resolution's passage in a message on X, calling it "a historic day for Germany and a victory for democracy". The collaboration between the two major conservative parties in Germany and the far-right party occurred amid claims by Elon Musk, senior advisor to former President Donald Trump, who recently stated in a message on X and then in an article in the German newspaper "Die Welt" that only the AfD could save the country; a claim that sparked significant reactions in Germany.