Germany’s new coalition takes harder line on migration

Germany’s next government will take a tougher stance on migration, including plans to turn away asylum seekers at the border and roll back fast-track naturalization, as part of a coalition deal announced Wednesday.

The move marks a sharp departure from Angela Merkel’s more liberal migration policies and comes amid rising support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

German conservatives under Friedrich Merz clinched the deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), following weeks of negotiations after Merz’s bloc won the most votes in February’s election but fell short of a majority.

With the AfD breathing down its neck, the new coalition signalled a hardening of migration policy, planning to turn away asylum seekers at Germany's borders and scrap fast-tracked naturalisation, among other measures.

It also announced a voluntary military service, the creation of a national security council, accelerated defence procurement, and support for Ukraine’s bid to join the NATO alliance.

The 69-year-old Merz, who had previously described Trump's U.S. as an unreliable ally, has pledged to increase defence spending as Europe faces mounting pressure from Russia and to back businesses grappling with high costs and waning demand.

The tougher migration stance explicitly distances the government from Merkel’s more open-door approach during the 2015 European migrant crisis.

Under the agreement, the CDU will control the economy and foreign ministries as well as the chancellery, while the SPD will oversee finance and defence, according to a document seen by Reuters.

This arrangement positions SPD leader Lars Klingbeil to become finance minister and likely keeps Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in his current post.

AfD tops latest poll

The coalition forms the only viable two-party majority that excludes the AfD, which has gained ground with a nativist, anti-migration platform.

In a blow to Merz, an Ipsos poll released Wednesday showed the AfD leading for the first time, with 25% support, ahead of Merz’s conservatives at 24%.

After his election win, Merz pushed through legislation allowing a surge in borrowing to fund major defence and infrastructure investments and aid struggling businesses.

While the move provides his government with a significant fiscal boost, it has faced criticism for abandoning promises of budgetary discipline.

Germany has already endured two years of economic contraction, and the prospect of further U.S. tariffs has heightened concerns for its export-reliant economy.

Message to White House

At a news conference with coalition partners, Merz addressed the White House directly in English.

“The key message to Donald Trump is: Germany is back on track,” he said, pledging to ramp up defence spending and enhance economic competitiveness.

He added that the coalition deal sent a “strong and clear signal” to citizens and Europe alike: “Germany is getting a government that is capable of action and strong.”

The agreement underscores the importance of U.S.-Germany relations and envisions a free trade deal in the medium term. But Merz also stressed the need for a unified EU response to the ongoing global tariff conflict, especially between the U.S. and China.

“At the same time,” he said, “economic uncertainty is increasing enormously. This week in particular, decisions by the American government have triggered new turmoil.”

Just hours later, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the new tariffs—a move Merz claimed as a win for Europe’s united trade stance.

“This example shows you: unity helps,” Merz told RTL television, suggesting that eliminating transatlantic tariffs altogether would “solve the problem.”