Germany’s likely next chancellor wants tougher migration measures even with AfD support, triggering a fierce pre-election debate.

BERLIN — With Germany’s election less than a month away, center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz has thrown cold water on the prospect of reviving the country’s traditional grand coalition — bluntly declaring that he “can’t trust” conservative leader Friedrich Merz anymore.

The conservative CDU/CSU party is hardening its stance on irregular immigration. Others in Europe have already paved the way.

Germany's government and opposition are clashing over border control policies. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz pushes for tighter controls with potential far-right support. The tension arises amid rising violence,

Social Democrat Scholz warns that Merz's proposal for permanent border controls would violate EU law, damage the economy, and threaten stability - Anadolu Ajansı

Despite the pushback, a recent poll published by the German tabloid 'Bild' indicates that the majority of Germans might be in favour of his stringent measures on illegal immigration. In an INSA-conducted survey, an overwhelming two-thirds majority reportedly backed Merz's strict stance on immigration policy.

Context: Brussels is “reviewing” its probes into tech groups including Apple, Meta and Google, launched under its landmark digital markets rules. Trump said he considered fines imposed by the EU on US tech companies operating there as a “form of taxation”, and has vowed to retaliate.

Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, frontrunner in polls to become ... he would seek strong ties with Germany's traditional core EU partner France but also with Poland and ...

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who is seen as the frontrunner to become the country's next chancellor, said that Donald Trump's second term will provide more clarity for the European Union.

The former chancellor’s intervention exposes a deepening rift within Germany’s conservatives over how to handle the AfD’s rising influence.

Friedrich Merz, the country's favourite to become next chancellor, said he would collect votes from all parties in order to push his five-point migration plan through parliament despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz's strong opposition.