The German parliament has rejected immigration measures put forward by the conservative opposition and backed by the far-right.
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz had tried to rely on support from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for the second time in a week – but the bill was defeated by 350 votes to 338.
The strategy was widely condemned, including by former chancellor Angela Merkel, who accused Merz of turning his back on a previous pledge not to work with AfD in the Bundestag.
Merz defended his actions as "necessary" and said he had not sought the party’s support.
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