UPDATE - German chancellor slams conservative rival Merz for ‘populism’ ahead of election

ADDS LATEST ELECTION POLL FIGURES, CHANGES IN HEADLINE AND DECK

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday delivered a sharp rebuke to his conservative rival Friedrich Merz for making “populist” demands on migration and aligning with the far-right AfD party.

Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, Scholz criticized recent legislative proposals by Merz, saying his calls for permanent border controls would violate EU law, harm the economy, and risk instability.

“When you claim we should simply stop applying European law at our borders—that is the response of populists,” the Social Democrat leader said, adding that such proposals would undermine EU unity and cooperation between member states.

“You openly accept the support of the AfD for your unlawful proposals. The support of those who fight our democracy. Who despise our united Europe. Who have been poisoning the climate in our country for years. That is a serious mistake,” Scholz said.

Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) alliance introduced several motions and a draft bill to parliament this week to modify the country's immigration and asylum laws. The proposals would require support from the far-right AfD's parliamentary group to pass.

Chancellor Scholz criticized Merz for breaking his earlier promise not to cooperate with the far-right AfD, accusing him of now seeking to change Germany's migration policy by working with far-right lawmakers.

“Just three weeks ago you gave your word on television that the CDU would not sell its soul by cooperating with the AfD. You have tied your political fate to it. Many citizens trusted your promise—but what is that promise worth now?“ he asked.

Scholz noted that in neighboring Austria, conservatives had similarly promised not to cooperate with the far-right, but after the election chose to support the far-right's chancellor candidate. He warned that Germany could face a similar scenario after the Feb. 23 elections.

“For the citizens of Germany, it is now absolutely clear that there must be no majority for the CDU, CSU and AfD after the Bundestag elections. Otherwise we are threatened with a black and blue government in Germany,” he said, referring to the political colors of these parties.

Scholz defended his government's migration policy, noting they have introduced significant legislative changes in recent months to curb irregular migration and streamline deportation procedures for rejected asylum seekers and criminal offenders among undocumented migrants.

He emphasized that Germany's aging population and skilled-labor shortages make immigration essential. Scholz also reaffirmed his government's commitment to international agreements and constitutional rights regarding asylum.

The domestic debate about immigration and deportations has intensified following a deadly knife attack in Aschaffenburg last week that left two people dead, including a child. The attack, carried out by a 28-year-old Afghan national, also left three others injured. Authorities have confirmed that the perpetrator had a documented history of violent incidents and mental health issues.

Though his asylum application was rejected in June, poor coordination and communication between state agencies prevented his deportation from being carried out.

- CDU/CSU leads pre-election polls

As Germany enters the final four weeks before its Feb. 23 elections, the CDU/CSU bloc led by conservative leader Merz maintains a strong lead in the latest campaign polls.

A YouGov poll released Wednesday showed the Christian Democrats at 29% of voter support, up one percentage point from the previous week. Despite this lead, Merz would need a coalition partner to form a government.

Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered a significant drop, falling four points to 15% and falling behind the far-right AfD, which rose to 23%.

The Greens declined slightly to 13%, well above the 5% threshold required to enter parliament. Among smaller parties, the left-wing populist BSW polled at 6%, securing parliamentary representation, while The Left barely cleared the threshold at 5%. The liberal FDP, at 3%, would fail to enter parliament under current polling. The remaining 5% was distributed among other parties that would not gain representation.