Germany's government and opposition parties duelled on Monday over rival border control policies, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz, favourite to become next chancellor, saying he would advance his plan with the help of the far right if needed.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has floated proposing legislation to tighten Germany's border controls, and claimed it would be on the SPD and Greens if he had to pass it with votes from the far-right AfD.

BERLIN: Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, leading in the race to become Germany's next chancellor, pledged on Monday (Jan 27) to bring a law on restoring border controls before parliament this week even if it needed to be passed with far-right support.

CDU chancellorship candidate Friedrich Merz wants to strengthen measures against illegal immigration and replace European asylum legislation, deemed 'dysfunctional,' with national law.

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Germany’s opposition leader says his party will bring motions to toughen migration policy to parliament next week in one of its last sessions before the country’s election

Tens of thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin and other cities against the rise of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party ahead of the Feb. 23 election

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become the next chancellor, said on Thursday he wanted to win back the lost trust of key allies and ensure Berlin is more assertive on the global stage in a speech laying out his foreign policy plans.

Election front-runner Friedrich Merz wants stricter migration policies following a deadly stabbing in Aschaffenburg. Some in Germany are surprised at how willing he seems to be to cooperate with the far-right AfD.

The conservative leader wants to impose strict border controls after knife killings in Aschaffenburg this week.

Germany’s conservative candidate, Friedrich Merz, suggested he’d push through tougher migration measures even with AfD support.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has pledged to impose tough border controls if elected chancellor in next month's vote. View on euronews