Without the migration policies since 2015, the AfD wouldn’t be anywhere near this strong,” says Vienna’s former conservative chancellor.

Friedrich Merz, the front-runner to become Germany’s next chancellor, relied on votes from the far-right AfD to push an anti-migration motion through parliament.

Friedrich Merz’s high-stakes gamble to enlist the far right in pressuring the German government to tighten migration laws has upended the campaign three weeks before general elections.

Former chancellor’s intervention exposes deep rift within country’s conservatives over how to handle the far right’s rising influence.

Angela Merkel criticized her successor, Friedrich Merz, for collaborating with the far-right in passing an immigration bill. This decision led to significant backlash, including protest actions and criticism from Holocaust survivor Albrecht Weinberg.

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

The former German Chancellor has publicly criticised her former party in the wake of far-right AfD's rising popularity.

In rare public statement, Merkel criticizes her party's decision to pass anti-immigration proposal with critical support of far-right party - Anadolu Ajansı

The breaking of a taboo among mainstream German parties on cooperation with the far right looks set to complicate efforts to form a coalition government after an election next month, and could deepen political instability in Europe's biggest economy.

The vote, expected on Friday, adds to a controversy about the attitude of the front-runner in Germany’s upcoming election towards the far-right.

The breaking of a taboo among mainstream German parties on cooperation with the far right looks set to complicate efforts to form a coalition government after an election next month, and could deepen political instability in Europe's biggest economy.