A war of words took over Germany's parliament, as the conservative opposition was warned against weakening the 'firewall' by accepting support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to pass motions in German immigration policy and security.
Centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz told his election rival Friedrich Merz that any cooperation with the anti-immigration AfD would be an "unforgivable mistake".
The 'Brandmauer' or firewall' against the AfD is a political strategy used by mainstream parties in Germany to limit the far right's power and influence.
Conservative CDU leader Merz - whose party is the frontrunner in polls ahead of February 23rd national elections - was set to table two motions aimed at toughening asylum policy.
It came in response to a knife attack in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, last week that killed two people, including a two-year-old child, and was the latest in a series of violent crimes where the suspect was an asylum seeker.
READ ALSO: Germany's asylum services in the spotlight after knife attack
Merz, despite pushback also coming from human rights groups and churches, argued that the situation is so dire that he will take whatever support he can get.
Merz said that seeing "cheering and grinning AfD MPs will be unbearable" and that the thought of it makes him "extremely uncomfortable" but he maintained that "a correct decision does not become wrong just because the wrong people agree, it remains right".
Later in the fiery debate in the Bundestag, AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel slammed the CDU/CSU for refusing to fully work with her party, saying: "The so-called firewall is nothing more than an anti-democratic cartel agreement" to exclude millions of voters.
While justifying the proposals, Merz referenced recent attacks such as the incident in Aschaffenburg, and demanded: "What else needs to happen in Germany?"
"How many more children have to become victims of such acts of violence before you also believe there is a threat to public safety and order?"
READ ALSO: 'Migration showdown': How plans to tighten borders and alter cititzenship have divided Germany
The motions, which express intent but fall short of changing any laws, call for Germany to reject "all attempts to enter the country illegally without exception," including asylum seekers.
They also include a proposal to allow for dual citizens to have their German nationality revoked in cases of serious criminal offences, as well as more deportations.
A draft law from the conservatives also concerning immigration policy was set to be debated in the Bundestag on Friday.
'Unforgivable mistake'
Wednesday's Bundestag session started with a speech from Chancellor Scholz, who took aim at the CDU/CSU. He said: "Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany over 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all democrats in our parliaments: we do not make common cause with the far right."
He urged the centre-right CDU/CSU not to accept support from "those who fight our democracy, who despise our united Europe, and who have been poisoning the climate in our country for years.
"This is a serious mistake - an unforgivable mistake."
The conservatives have previously ruled out entering a coalition with the AfD. But Scholz warned that this must hold after the election "otherwise we face the threat of a black-blue government in Germany."
Scholz slammed Merz for pursuing "populist" policies that would breach European Union laws.
"We cannot go beyond the law," he said, stressing that "the right to asylum is an integral part of our system of laws and values".
Scholz also announced further deportations of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. "The next flight is being prepared," he said, adding that authorities were also monitoring developments in Syria. "As soon as the situation allows, we will also carry out deportations there," Scholz said.
READ ALSO: The CDU's immigration plan for Germany including citizenship reform
With reporting from AFP
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