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.

The man tipped to win Germany's election next month is set to propose plans on Wednesday to restrict migration that could pass with the help of votes from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), potentially breaking a taboo on cooperation with the far-right.

The man tipped to win Germany's election next month challenged a taboo on cooperation with the far-right on Wednesday by proposing plans to restrict migration that could only pass with the help of votes from the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The CDU party chief, who leads in the polls to become the next chancellor, said he would collect votes from all parties to push his five-point migration plan through parliament despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz's strong opposition.

German opposition conservative leader Friedrich Merz said he regrets that plans to reject more asylum seekers at Germany's borders may have passed in parliament on Wednesday with the help of votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).