Germany’s coalition talks between the conservative CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) are in deep waters, jeopardizing the chances for a significant shift in the country’s immigration policy. CDU leader Friedrich Merz had promised sweeping changes before the February 23 elections, but the negotiations are hitting several bumps in the road.
On March 20, German news outlet Bild reported that the SPD’s Migration and Diversity working group had unveiled an “alternative plan” for the future migration policy of the potential CDU-SPD coalition. The centerpiece of the proposal is an amnesty for illegal immigrants, excluding only serious criminals. The SPD argues that forcing these individuals to leave Germany is often neither practical nor wise. Instead, they want to offer them a chance to contribute meaningfully to society through job hunting, learning German, or volunteering.
This new SPD plan directly contradicts earlier agreements made in the pre-negotiation phase, where both parties had consented to ramp up deportations. Merz had made it clear during his campaign that he would implement strict measures, such as reintroducing border controls and empowering federal police to deport illegals more efficiently, following deadly attacks allegedly carried out by illegal immigrants.
The SPD’s stance on immigration wasn’t the only obstacle. They also pushed for decriminalizing abortion, directly clashing with Merz’s pre-election promises. Despite securing only 16% of the vote compared to the CDU’s 29%, the SPD’s hardline stance reflects the consequences of Germany’s “cordon sanitaire.” By pledging not to collaborate with the right-wing AfD (Alternative for Germany), Merz is left with little choice but to negotiate with the SPD, limiting his coalition options.
