Germany’s Greens reject conservative motion on migration

The parliamentary leader of Germany’s Greens has rejected proposals from opposition conservative leader Friedrich Merz on migration policy reforms, saying they would be unconstitutional and mean Germany’s expulsion from the EU.

Speaking to broadcaster Phoenix as the party holds its pre-election conference, Katharina Dröge said Merz’s proposal to expel all those entering the country illegally were contrary to EU law and the German constitution.

This would not increase German security, she said. The Greens were nevertheless prepared to talk to the CDU/CSU conservative opposition, she said, holding open the option of a coalition following the February 23 poll.

But Merz had merely sent an email on his proposal asking whether the Greens agreed or not, and this was not a discussion, Dröge said.

Merz posted earlier on X that the government parties had received the text of a motion that the CDU/CSU aimed to bring before parliament next week. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had not received the email, he said.

“We could agree between ourselves over the weekend how we vote next week,” he posted in the wake of a fatal knife attack in Aschaffenburg, in which a failed asylum-seeker is the main suspect, that has drawn widespread condemnation.

Merz’s aim of pushing through stricter migration policy with or without the backing of the AfD has drawn condemnation from other parties, which have erected a firewall around the party.

The CDU/CSU has made specific proposals on a five-point plan put forward by Merz, its lead candidate in the elections, while simultaneously expressing sharp criticism of the AfD.