Germany’s parliament narrowly passed a motion on Wednesday urging strict immigration restrictions, a move that sparked controversy due to its backing by the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. The motion, proposed by the conservative opposition CDU-CSU, was supported by the AfD, breaking a longstanding political taboo of cooperation with the anti-immigration group.

The motion passed with a slim majority of 348 votes in favour, 345 against, and 10 abstentions. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had strongly opposed the measure, warning the opposition that aligning with the AfD would be an “unforgivable mistake.”

The deal marks an important political shift in Germany because the power of the far-right option, AfD, on hot topics like immigration is increasing. According to Scholz, other government officials also started questioning potential damage to democracy values and Germany’s reputation on the international scene. The discussion has ignited deep division in politics, with critics arguing that the motion could embolden further right-wing ideologies.