Thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin and other cities against the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party ahead of a Feb. 23 general election.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become the next chancellor, said on Thursday he wanted to win back the lost trust of key allies and ensure Berlin is more assertive on the global stage in a speech laying out his foreign policy plans.

Some in Germany are surprised at how willing he seems to be to cooperate with the far-right AfD.Germany' s opposition leader, Friedrich Merz from the conservative Christian Democratic Union, said Friday that he would seek to pass tougher migration measures in parliament next week.

Thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin and other cities against the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party ahead of a Feb. 23 general election

Germany’s conservative candidate, Friedrich Merz, suggested he’d push through tougher migration measures even with AfD support.

Germany’s opposition leader has vowed to bar people from entering the country without proper papers and to step up deportations if he is elected as chancellor next month.

Mr Merz argued the need “to negotiate with the American side from a position of strength”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Germany's election frontrunner says Europeans are waiting for Germany to take the lead on dealing with the new American president.

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that he met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, just weeks before a federal election in Germany.

Election front-runner Friedrich Merz wants stricter migration policies following a deadly stabbing in Aschaffenburg. Some in Germany are surprised at how willing he seems to be to cooperate with the far-right AfD.

Merz, whose centre-right bloc currently tops the polls, is toughening his stance on migration ahead of federal elections next month.View on euronews