Former German leader reiterates swipe at chancellor candidate from her own Christian Democratic Union ahead of Feb. 23 election.

The former German chancellor said it was not right to remain silent after her party, the conservative CDU, relied on votes from the far-right AfD to pass a motion in parliament.Germany' s former chancellor Angela Merkel has repeated her criticism of her party leader Friedrich Merz for relying on votes from the far-right AfD to pass a motion in parliament.

Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel has doubled down on her criticism of Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, leader Friedrich Merz over his willingness to cooperate with the far-right Alternative for Germany party in a parliamentary vote on immigration policy last week.

"After last week's events in the Bundestag, the democratic parties have become polarised," observed Merkel, as quoted by the "Spiegel" weekly portal.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued rare public criticism of her successor as the country’s center-right leader, the front-runner in Germany’s election next month, for putting to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules that only passed with the help of a far-right party.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Friedrich Merz, her successor as leader of the country's conservatives, on Thursday for pushing through a bill on tighter immigration control with the help of the far right.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel's recent criticism of current conservative leader Friedrich Merz's migration policy has put renewed focus on the former chancellor's sour relationship with her old party rival.