Germany’s parliament descended into heckles and recriminations on Wednesday after a “firewall” against working with the far-right cracked.

A non-binding motion calling for tougher border and asylum rules passed with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). During the stormy session, politicians of various parties hurled criticism and blame at each other.

Conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who tabled the plans, defended his actions as “necessary”. But Chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed the move as an “unforgivable mistake”.

Merz now plans to propose actual legislation on Friday – again with possible AfD backing – aimed at curbing immigration numbers and family reunion rights.

But his proposed measures are highly unlikely to come into effect this side of February’s snap election and – if they did – could clash with EU law.

Referring to the AfD’s support for the motion, the CDU leader told the Bundestag that a policy wasn’t wrong just because the “wrong people back it”.