The bill’s defeat — after Merz secured the passage of a similar motion on Wednesday — suggests that some of his own parliamentary group voted against the bill. All of which puts him in an uncomfortable position little more than three weeks from an election that has looked like his to lose.

Germany's parliament rejected on Friday an opposition draft law on tightening immigration policy, averting the prospect of a law passing for the first time in modern German history thanks to the backing of the far-right.

The centre-right CDU party leader sparked fierce criticism on Wednesday for accepting the far right's support in pushing a first bill through parliament. View on euronews

The Bundestag has narrowly rejected a bill to limit migration and close Germany’s borders. German conservatives caused outrage by relying on the far right to try to push through the bill through parliament.

Germany's parliament narrowly rejected a bill proposing stricter migration rules, sparking controversy over opposition leader Friedrich Merz's approach and his party's stance toward the far-right. The rejection amplifies divisions among major parties ahead of Germany's elections,

After the conservative CDU-CSU bloc joined with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party to pass a non-binding motion cracking down on immigration on Wednesday, MPs voted 338-350 to reject a bill on the issue.

Friedrich Merz’s hard-line shift on migration is a calculated gambit by the German conservative leader to neutralize the far right and deliver a breakthrough with wavering voters, according to people familiar with his thinking.

The front-runner to be Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has faced criticism for accepting support from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. View on euronews