Germany's Merkel blasts conservatives over cooperation with far right
In a statement released by her office, Merkel - who led Germany between 2005 and 2021 - slammed the decision "to enable a majority with the votes of the AfD for the first time in a vote in the German Bundestag," the country's lower house of parliament.
After the breakdown of centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition in November, CDU leader Friedrich Merz made a commitment to avoid passing measures with the help of the AfD, Merkel recalled.
"This proposal and the attitude associated with it were an expression of great national political responsibility, which I fully support," the former chancellor said.
Migration has become the dominant theme in the German election campaign ahead of the vote on February 23 after a string of attacks attributed to suspects with migrant backgrounds.
On Wednesday, the CDU relied on support from the AfD to narrowly pass its non-binding five-point plan for a tougher migration policy through the Bundestag.
The move was extremely controversial, marking the first time the AfD have been relied upon to form a majority for legislation.
Another vote on a CDU-backed package of migration policies is expected in parliament on Friday with concrete measures aimed at cracking down on asylum-seekers entering the country.
The AfD and two minor parties have signalled they will support the bill.
Merkel demanded "that all democratic parties work together across party political boundaries, not as a tactical manoeuvre, but honestly, moderately and on the basis of applicable European law, to do everything possible to prevent such terrible attacks."
Other leading CDU members have also chimed in following the historic motion, with Hendrik Wüst, the premier of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, denouncing the AfD in a speech in Dusseldorf and arguing that "the major problems of our time must be solved from the democratic centre."
The AfD "is misanthropic, it is racist in parts, it is anti-European," said Wüst, who leads Germany's most populous state.
His counterpart in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, appealed explicitly to other established parties to back Friday's bill.
"There is a broad majority in the population in favor of having clear rules when it comes to internal security and the enforcement of law and order," said Günther. "And it must be democrats who come to a common solution here."
He called Wednesday's vote "bitter" and said that mainstream democratic politicians now have "a real historical responsibility to face."
Jubilant AfD expect 'new age' in Germany politics
The sour mood in the CDU stood in sharp contrast on Thursday to the AfD, whose co-leader said the motion could bring a "new age" in German politics.
Tino Chrupalla told the rbb radio station that Germany expects a "shift in politics and migration," pointing to polls placing the AfD in second place on more than 20% of the vote.
Politics have failed to address issues linked to migration, Chrupalla argued, suggesting that more national border controls are needed to stop the influx of refugees.
He said 250,000 people are obliged to leave the country and should be taken into "protective custody," a Nazi-era term for rounding up political opponents without trial, before being deported.
Chrupalla also told broadcaster RTL/ntv that the AfD is ready to form a coalition with the CDU/CSU alliance following the election.
While Merz has repeatedly ruled out a coalition with the far-right party, Chrupalla suggested Merz could be forced out if he opposes working with the AfD.
He further called Merz the "Joe Biden of Germany," referring to the former US president who left office earlier this month. "I don't believe that Mr Merz will be doing grand politics here in Germany for much longer."
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