Polls show conservative leader Friedrich Merz's Union leading ahead of the Feb. 23 election with around 30% support, while AfD is second with about 20%.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Friedrich Merz, her successor as leader of the country's conservatives, on Thursday for pushing through a bill on tighter immigration control with the help of the far right.

Friedrich Merz, the front-runner to become Germany’s next chancellor, relied on votes from the far-right AfD to push an anti-migration motion through parliament.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday criticized her opposition centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) for passing a motion in parliament for hard-line reforms to migration policy with votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel weighed into Germany’s contentious election campaign, sharply criticizing fellow Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz over his decision to force through a hard-line immigration resolution in parliament with votes from the far right.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel publicly criticized her successor Friedrich Merz for collaborating with the far-right party AfD to pass new migration policies. Despite Merkel's disapproval, Merz aims to present his conservative party as decisive on immigration,

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized her centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) for passing a motion in parliament calling for hard-line reforms to migration policy with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the leader of her Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz, for drawing on support from the far-right to pass a motion in parliament, in a statement on Thursday.