Angela Merkel has intervened in Germany's election campaign, publicly criticizing Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), just weeks before the February 23 national election.

In a rare statement, Merkel slammed Merz’s decision to rely on far-right votes to pass an anti-immigration motion in the Bundestag, breaking the CDU's long-standing commitment to isolating the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel, who led the CDU for over two decades, called this move a mistake, referencing Merz’s November 2024 pledge to prevent AfD influence in parliament.

Merz, who has shifted the CDU significantly to the right since his return in 2022, has faced minimal criticism within the party for his approach to migration, but Merkel’s intervention has intensified the internal debate on the CDU’s relationship with the AfD.

The vote marked the first time the CDU relied on AfD support to push through a motion, symbolizing a rupture with Merkel’s centrist legacy.

The AfD has seized on this moment, claiming it as evidence of its growing mainstream legitimacy.

The CDU’s shift has drawn backlash from Germany’s center-left, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and demonstrators criticizing Merz’s approach.

Merkel’s intervention further complicates Merz’s position, forcing him to navigate between continuing his rightward shift or reasserting the party’s traditional stance against the far right.