A morning collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter over Washington D.C. initially dominated coverage. By mid-morning, former Chancellor Merkel broke her post-retirement silence to criticize CDU leader Merz's migration vote alliance with AfD, calling it "wrong" and triggering intense party debate.
The CDU headquarters evacuated staff following death threats, while demonstrations formed nationwide. Several CDU state leaders, including NRW, announced opposition to Merz's migration law in the Bundesrat. The Green Party maintained openness to future coalition despite the controversy.
Evening coverage focused on mass protests across German cities, with thousands gathering at the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus. Legal experts declared Merz's asylum proposals incompatible with EU law, while new polling showed CDU support declining following the vote.