Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner in the German election, will focus his campaign on proposals to revive the struggling economy after a bruising clash last week over tougher immigration rules.

Merz, leader of the Christian Democrats, had sought to restrict immigration rules with the support of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The bill fell short of 12 votes on Friday. Twelve MPs from Merz’s parliamentary group were absent.

Last week, the CDU broke the mainstream parties' so-called firewall of noncooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, as it relied on votes from AfD members in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, to pass a nonbinding vote on tougher border and asylum rules.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner in the German election, vowed to hold course on his disputed plan to limit migration despite public protest and to restore growth to the country’s ailing economy.

Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor, said on Monday that he is ready to lead the country as his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) assembled in Berlin for a party conference weeks ahead of national elections.

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.

The bill’s defeat — after Merz secured the passage of a similar motion on Wednesday — suggests that some of his own parliamentary group voted against the bill. All of which puts him in an uncomfortable position little more than three weeks from an election that has looked like his to lose.

Protesters accuse Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democrats of breaking Germany’s unwritten post-Nazi promise to never pass any rule or resolution in parliament with support of far-right, nationalist

Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor, said on Monday he is ready to "lead Germany forward" as his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) assembled in Berlin for a party conference three weeks before national elections.