Germany's parliament has rejected a proposed migration bill by opposition leader Friedrich Merz after backlash over far-right cooperation. Merz claimed the bill was a response to violent incidents linked to immigrants but faced protests after his prior non-binding motion saw support from the far-right AfD. This breach of consensus has put Merz in a vulnerable position with the upcoming February 23 elections approaching, where his party leads in polls. Meanwhile, a DeutschlandTrend poll indicates that 67% of voters favor permanent border controls, revealing growing public sentiment on immigration issues.