Rob Schmitz

When the AFD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a pact to never cooperate with the AFD. Merz insists he wouldn't govern with the AFD, but his move to cooperate legislatively with the party has attracted criticism from Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

When the AFD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a pact to never cooperate with the AFD. Merz insists he wouldn't govern with the AFD, but his move to cooperate legislatively with the party has attracted criticism from Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

So this all started with a parliamentary motion to restrict immigration from Friedrich Merz. He's the head of the Christian Democratic Union, a center-right party that's ahead in the polls and will likely win the most votes in Germany's election next month. And that means Merz will likely be Germany's next chancellor.

So this all started with a parliamentary motion to restrict immigration from Friedrich Merz. He's the head of the Christian Democratic Union, a center-right party that's ahead in the polls and will likely win the most votes in Germany's election next month. And that means Merz will likely be Germany's next chancellor.

So this all started with a parliamentary motion to restrict immigration from Friedrich Merz. He's the head of the Christian Democratic Union, a center-right party that's ahead in the polls and will likely win the most votes in Germany's election next month. And that means Merz will likely be Germany's next chancellor.

Well, he brought forth a motion to further restrict immigration to Germany, and this comes on the heels of recent deadly attacks committed by migrants. Now, on the face of it, there was nothing off about Merz's motion in Parliament about this, but it was how he was going to pass this motion that really upset much of Parliament and many Germans.

Well, he brought forth a motion to further restrict immigration to Germany, and this comes on the heels of recent deadly attacks committed by migrants. Now, on the face of it, there was nothing off about Merz's motion in Parliament about this, but it was how he was going to pass this motion that really upset much of Parliament and many Germans.

Well, he brought forth a motion to further restrict immigration to Germany, and this comes on the heels of recent deadly attacks committed by migrants. Now, on the face of it, there was nothing off about Merz's motion in Parliament about this, but it was how he was going to pass this motion that really upset much of Parliament and many Germans.

Well, none of the mainstream parties were interested in voting with Merz's party on this proposal. But there was one party that was very keen to join him, and that's the AFD, the Alternative for Germany Party, which is considered by Germany's political establishment as an extremist right-wing party. The AFD has advocated deporting all Germans with a migration background.

Well, none of the mainstream parties were interested in voting with Merz's party on this proposal. But there was one party that was very keen to join him, and that's the AFD, the Alternative for Germany Party, which is considered by Germany's political establishment as an extremist right-wing party. The AFD has advocated deporting all Germans with a migration background.

Well, none of the mainstream parties were interested in voting with Merz's party on this proposal. But there was one party that was very keen to join him, and that's the AFD, the Alternative for Germany Party, which is considered by Germany's political establishment as an extremist right-wing party. The AFD has advocated deporting all Germans with a migration background.

Some of its members use Nazi slogans. And the party is under domestic surveillance for the threat that it poses to Germany's democracy.

Some of its members use Nazi slogans. And the party is under domestic surveillance for the threat that it poses to Germany's democracy.

Some of its members use Nazi slogans. And the party is under domestic surveillance for the threat that it poses to Germany's democracy.

Yeah, that's right. And since World War II, there's been a consensus among Germany's mainstream political parties that extremist parties must never be allowed in government again. And when the AfD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a path to never cooperate with the AfD. This was called the firewall.

Yeah, that's right. And since World War II, there's been a consensus among Germany's mainstream political parties that extremist parties must never be allowed in government again. And when the AfD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a path to never cooperate with the AfD. This was called the firewall.

Yeah, that's right. And since World War II, there's been a consensus among Germany's mainstream political parties that extremist parties must never be allowed in government again. And when the AfD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a path to never cooperate with the AfD. This was called the firewall.

But now Merz is signaling that he's open to cooperating with the AfD on this immigration motion. And here's how he defended his decision. And he's saying here that the right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people have made it. The decision, he said, is still right.

But now Merz is signaling that he's open to cooperating with the AfD on this immigration motion. And here's how he defended his decision. And he's saying here that the right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people have made it. The decision, he said, is still right.

But now Merz is signaling that he's open to cooperating with the AfD on this immigration motion. And here's how he defended his decision. And he's saying here that the right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people have made it. The decision, he said, is still right.