Monday, February 10, 2025 | Sha'ban 10, 1446 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
22°C / 22°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Germany's conservatives gather after protests

CDU party leader and top candidate for Chancellor, Friedrich Merz takes the stage during the Federal Party Convention, in Berlin. — Reuters
CDU party leader and top candidate for Chancellor, Friedrich Merz takes the stage during the Federal Party Convention, in Berlin. — Reuters
minus
plus

BERLIN: Germany's conservative election front-runner Friedrich Merz was set to outline his plans on immigration and the economy at a party congress on Monday after a weekend of mass protests against him, and with less than three weeks to go until national elections. Opposition CDU leader Merz and his Bavarian CSU allies have vowed a crackdown on irregular migrants but provoked strong protests in parliament and on the streets after accepting support from MPs of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).


Mass rallies were held in Berlin and other cities on Sunday with tens of thousands of protesters waving signs such as "Shame on you, CDU" and "We are the firewall". The controversy has redefined the campaign ahead of the February 23 election and allowed centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Greens to attack Merz, who also saw disunity within his own ranks after influential ex-chancellor Angela Merkel strongly criticised him. At Monday's CDU party congress in Berlin, Merz was expected to double down on his stance. — AFP


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon