With less than four weeks before Germany’s federal election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who is leading polls, will take their contentious battle over how to crack down on illegal migration to parliament.

The CDU party chief, who leads in the polls to become the next chancellor, said he would collect votes from all parties to push his five-point migration plan through parliament despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz's strong opposition.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday launched a sharp critique of his conservative rival Friedrich Merz over his plans to pass motions on migration reform in parliament - even with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).