Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued rare public criticism of her successor as the country’s center-right leader, the front-runner in Germany’s election next month, for putting to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules that only passed with the help of a far-right party.

Germany's parliament narrowly passed a resolution Wednesday urging tough restrictions on immigration that was especially controversial because it was backed by the far-right AfD

Alternative for Germany helped push an immigration restriction proposal over the threshold, breaking the "firewall" surrounding the right-wing party.

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 chancellor’s intervention exposes deep rift within country’s conservatives over how to handle the far right’s rising influence.

Germany’s parliament has narrowly approved a call by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s main challenger to turn back many more migrants at the country’s borders, with the help of a far-right party.

Conservatives have cooperated with the far-right AfD for the first time, amid growing support from the tech billionaire.

Amnesty International, Seebrücke and other organisations called for the rally under the slogan "Firewall instead of arson". View on euronews

Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become chancellor in February's election, is making waves by agreeing to work with the far-right AfD on immigration rules.

Germany's opposition conservatives won parliamentary approval on Wednesday for a proposal to drastically restrict migration with the help of votes from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), breaking a taboo on cooperation with the far-right.

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A motion on immigration introduced in the Bundestag by the CDU obtained a majority on Wednesday with support from the far-right AfD. In a rare criticism of her own party, former chancellor Angela Merkel said the move was 'wrong.