More than 160,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest against an immigration bill proposed by the CDU/CSU and backed by the far-right AfD. The draft law aimed to tighten border controls and restrict family reunifications for refugees, but it failed to pass in the Bundestag after internal opposition
Thousands took to the streets of Berlin on Sunday in opposition to an immigration bill sponsored by Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right CDU/CSU, with backing from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The proposal sought to limit family reunifications and impose stricter border policies, a move that sparked public outrage.
Protesters assembled near the Bundestag, holding banners that read "We are the firewall, no cooperation with the AfD" and "Merz, go home, shame on you!" According to Berlin police, the demonstration drew approximately 160,000 people.
Merz, who is considered a frontrunner in Germany’s upcoming national election on February 23, attempted to push the bill through the lower house of parliament on Friday. However, it failed to secure enough votes, as some members of his own party refused to support it. The setback was seen as a blow to his leadership, with critics warning that his cooperation with the AfD could damage his political standing.
Germany’s mainstream parties have historically worked to block the AfD from gaining legislative influence, maintaining what they call a “firewall” against the far-right. The AfD remains under surveillance by national security services.
While opinion polls indicate that two-thirds of the public favour stricter immigration controls, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens dismissed the CDU/CSU proposal, arguing it would not have prevented recent violent crimes and could violate European law.
Similar protests erupted across Germany on Saturday, with tens of thousands marching in Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Leipzig against both the CDU/CSU and the AfD.
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