German far-right leader accidentally votes for refugees to bring their families to Germany

  • German Bundestag voted to allow those with temporary refugee status to bring family members into the country, but agreed to cap number at 1,000 per month 
  • Far-right AfD, which campaigned on an anti-refugee platform, opposed the move
  • All 90 ministers voted against, except parliamentary manager Bernd Baumann
  • Party admitted he voted for the legislation, but said the move was a mistake 

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

The parliamentary leader of Germany's far-right AfD party has accidentally helped a pro-refugee bill to pass a vote in parliament.

Bernd Baumann, the party's parliamentary manager, was the only one of its 90 ministers to vote in favour of the bill on Thursday.

A spokesman for the AfD, which won its first ever seats in the Bundestag on an anti-immigrant platform, admitted Baumann cast the vote, but said it was a mistake.

Bernd Baumann, parliamentary manager of the AfD, accidentally voted in favour of a bill allowing temporary refugees to bring their families to Germany 

Bernd Baumann, parliamentary manager of the AfD, accidentally voted in favour of a bill allowing temporary refugees to bring their families to Germany 

The bill allows those with temporary refugee status to bring relatives into Germany, but imposes a strict cap of 1,000 people per month, The Local reports.

The policy is part of compromise efforts as Angela Merkel attempts to build a coalition government with the left-wing SDP.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the bill was 'a compromise between humanity and responsibility... between generosity and realism'.

The AfD opposed the move outright, instead putting forward their own bill saying that all family reunification should be abolished.

As one the part rejected the government's bill and backed their own, except for the lone figure of Baumann.

'The mistaken way in which he voted naturally does not reflect his political opinion,' a spokesman told The Local. 

The AfD opposes family reunification and tabled an opposing bill asking for it to be abolished, but a mistake saw Baumann vote against his party (pictured, refugees arrive in Dortmund)

The AfD opposes family reunification and tabled an opposing bill asking for it to be abolished, but a mistake saw Baumann vote against his party (pictured, refugees arrive in Dortmund)

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