Germany’s parliament erupted in controversy after a CDU-backed motion on tougher asylum rules passed with support from the far-right AfD, breaking a long-standing political taboo.

Axar.az, citing BBC, reports that CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended the motion but denied seeking AfD backing, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned it as a "mistake."

The move signals a shift in CDU strategy ahead of elections, with Merz aiming to win right-wing voters but risking centrist support.

The AfD, polling second nationally, celebrated the vote, intensifying Germany’s ongoing debate on migration and historical accountability.