Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticises Friedrich Merz, her successor as leader of the country's conservatives, for pushing through a bill on tighter immigration control with the help of the far right. Merkel accuses Merz of going back on his vow to seek majorities with mainstream parties rather than with the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD). Holocaust survivor Albrecht Weinberg returns his Federal Order of Merit medal in protest, while Jewish community leader Michel Friedman quits the party. Merz, who is set to become Germany's next leader after the Feb. 23 election, rejects suggestions of breaching the mainstream parties' 'firewall' against the AfD.