German bill calling for tougher rules on migration narrowly defeated
German bill calling for tougher rules on migration narrowly defeated
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Germany has blocked a bill calling for tougher rules on migration after a close vote in the country's parliament. The legislation was put forward by the country's opposition leader, Freidrich Merz, who has called for Germany to tighten migration controls after a series of high-profile killings by people with immigrant backgrounds. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his party, the Social Democrats, and the Greens - partners in his minority government - would vote against the proposal. But the bill had the support of both Germany's Conservatives and the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
If the bill had made it through, it would have marked the first time in Germany's post-war history that its parliament had passed legalisation thanks to far-right support. The bill called for Germany to turn back many more migrants at its borders and would have given police increased powers to carry out deportations. Today's decision comes after a non-binding motion on the matter passed thanks to the AfD on Wednesday.
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