Friedrich Merz
The firewall against right-wing nationalists is about to fall
Wolfgang Hansson
This is a commentary text. Analysis and positions are those of the writer.
Updated 19.30 | Published 18.29
Quick version
- Angela Merkel has unusually criticized her successor Friedrich Merz for breaking the party's agreement not to depend on the votes of the far-right AfD.
- Merz has received strong criticism both within and outside the CDU because his five-point plan for stricter immigration policy opens up cooperation with the AfD, which was previously taboo.
- The situation has made it uncertain what the CDU's position and future look like, especially ahead of upcoming elections where the CDU is otherwise leading in the opinion polls.
But yesterday she broke away. And this against his successor in the Christian Democratic Party.
This after he broke a taboo not to make himself dependent on the right-wing nationalist AfD.
Now there is full-scale political war in Germany with only three weeks left until the election.
Basically, the election will now be about one thing above all.
How far should one go to keep right-wing extremist parties away from power and influence.
It is a question that is high on the agenda in many countries, not least in Sweden.
But in Germany it is extra sensitive and hot because of the country's experiences during the Second World War when Nazism destroyed democracy and murdered six million Jews.
Since then, it has been unthinkable that right-wing extremist parties could grow strong. But in the last ten years, that truth has been put to an end with the successes of the Alternative for Germany, AfD.
To stop AfD, other parties have entered into an agreement never to cooperate with the party. But the firewall to keep them out of power has been thicker and stronger than that.
No party has even wanted to vote through proposals if they were dependent on AfD votes.
Until last Wednesday, when Merkel's CDU party presented a five-point plan to tighten immigration policy.
The leader and prospective chancellor Friedrich Merz justified it by saying that politicians must now act to stop dangerous people from being able to enter Germany and then stay despite their asylum applications being rejected.
Madness
This follows a number of violent acts in the past year in which asylum seekers or immigrants have carried out mad acts in which a number of people have been killed and injured.- I don't care who votes for my proposals, as long as there is a change, says Merz.
He wanted the other established parties to jump on the bandwagon, but they felt that his proposal went too far and violated some of the EU's basic rules.
The only other party that voted in favor was the AfD.
In doing so, critics believe, Merz has torn down the firewall and let the AfD in.
Something he denies. Merz still insists that there should be no organized cooperation with the AfD, and he cannot imagine governing with the help of the far-right.
Nevertheless, he has found himself in a real bind.
Even his own party colleague and former Chancellor Angela Merkel condemns Merz's actions. She, who otherwise never usually speaks out about current politics, published a statement on her website yesterday in which she criticized Merz's actions in sharp terms.
- I believe it is wrong to abandon the principle of isolating the AfD and thereby consciously make herself dependent on the AfD's votes in the Bundestag for the first time, writes Merkel.
Internal power struggles
Well aware that her criticism will be used against Merz in the election campaign before the election on February 23.It is quite remarkable, also considering that the two have been involved in internal power struggles and have never been on particularly good terms with each other.
It is also proof of how sensitive and controversial the whole issue is in Germany.
Germany is the last bastion in Europe where the crackdown on right-wing nationalist parties has so far been rock-solid. Now it looks like they are also about to throw in the towel in the face of political realities. The AfD looks set to become the next largest party after the election.
The question is how Merz's actions will affect the CDU in the three weeks remaining until election day. The party is clearly leading in opinion polls by around 30 percent but has lost some ground in recent weeks.
Merz wants to stop the decline by becoming even tougher on asylum policy and thereby prevent right-wing voters from instead going to the AfD.
But now he risks losing the more moderate CDU voters who think the proposals for a stricter asylum policy are too harsh.
A sign of this is that several CDU members voted against the bill when it was to be adopted in the Bundestag. The bill thus fell, which was a defeat for Merz.
In addition, all asylum seekers who are now in Germany will be locked up in detention once they have received a deportation order. Asylum seekers who commit crimes should be forcibly deported.
The only way to pass these proposals into law was to rely on the AfD's votes. But even that was not enough because of the internal rebellion.
Even if Merz wins the election, he cannot govern on his own. He will have to enlist the help of either the Greens or the Social Democrats, SPD. Or both.
But will they want to govern with him after he has, in their eyes, demolished the firewall?
Otherwise, the CDU leader may be forced to go even further and govern with the help of the AfD.
What happens in Germany will not only determine whether the firewall against right-wing extremism can be saved, but also what Europe's future migration policy will look like.
If Germany closes its borders, what will the rest of Europe do? The migration pact risks collapsing like a house of cards.
Merz wants to stop the decline by becoming even tougher on asylum policy and thereby prevent right-wing voters from instead going to the AfD.
But now he risks losing the more moderate CDU voters who think the proposals for a stricter asylum policy are too harsh.
A sign of this is that several CDU members voted against the bill when it was to be adopted in the Bundestag. The bill thus fell, which was a defeat for Merz.
Forced deportation
The bill meant that Germany would no longer let in any asylum seekers at the border at all. Something that is in clear violation of the rules the EU agreed on in the new migration pact that was hammered out as recently as last summer.In addition, all asylum seekers who are now in Germany will be locked up in detention once they have received a deportation order. Asylum seekers who commit crimes should be forcibly deported.
The only way to pass these proposals into law was to rely on the AfD's votes. But even that was not enough because of the internal rebellion.
Even if Merz wins the election, he cannot govern on his own. He will have to enlist the help of either the Greens or the Social Democrats, SPD. Or both.
But will they want to govern with him after he has, in their eyes, demolished the firewall?
Otherwise, the CDU leader may be forced to go even further and govern with the help of the AfD.
What happens in Germany will not only determine whether the firewall against right-wing extremism can be saved, but also what Europe's future migration policy will look like.
If Germany closes its borders, what will the rest of Europe do? The migration pact risks collapsing like a house of cards.
Nu råder det ett fullt politiskt krig
Brandväggen mot högernationalister på väg att falla
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