Summary

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized CDU leader Friedrich Merz for using far-right AfD votes to pass a border policy motion, breaking a longstanding political “firewall.”

The move sparked nationwide protests, and Merkel said it was wrong to rely on AfD support.

Merz defended himself by blaming Merkel’s 2015 migration policies for AfD’s rise.

Merkel rejected this, arguing internal CDU-CSU conflicts helped AfD grow.