Merz Pledges Border Control Law Amid Rising Migration Concerns

In Berlin, Friedrich Merz, who leads the opposition and is in contention to become Germany’s next chancellor, announced on January 27 his intention to present a law aimed at reinstating border controls before the parliament this week. This move aligns with his strategy to emphasize migration issues as central to his campaign, especially in response to the far-right's increasing influence following a knife attack allegedly involving a failed Afghan asylum seeker.

Merz, who is seen as the front-runner ahead of the February 23 national snap elections, indicated that if his proposal does pass with the support of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), it is the fault of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and their coalition partners who fail to support it. He stressed that his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), will not allow other parties to dictate the legislative agenda.

The backdrop for this political maneuvering includes a recent violent incident that has heightened public anxiety over migration and security. Following the January 22 stabbing, which involved two victims, including a child, authorities have drawn attention to the serious implications of having a large number of asylum seekers in the country—Merz pointed out that around 40,000 asylum applicants require deportation, condemning the government for a lack of decisive action.

Critics of Merz caution that he risks opening the door for cooperation with the AfD and eroding the conventional political fabric of Germany. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has criticized Merz's border control proposal, labeling it impractical and detrimental to Germany’s commitments within the European Union, warning that its implementation could destabilize EU dynamics and compromise collective responsibilities.