The country’s likely next chancellor wanted to focus on the economy—before suddenly betting everything on culture war.

Welcome to TOPLive. We’ll be covering today’s vote on a divisive anti-immigration bill in Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz is taking a hard line and attempting to push through legislation with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

BERLIN—The front-runner in Germany’s election made a gambit this week to woo supporters of an increasingly popular far-right party by proposing a raft of new immigration restrictions. The move is now backfiring.

German lawmakers face another hugely contentious vote on Friday, days after a motion demanding reforms to migration laws passed in parliament with backing from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD),

Germany's conservative opposition leader was set Friday to again seek far-right support in parliament on the flashpoint issue of immigration, after his first effort sparked widespread condemnation and street protests.