A 99-year-old Holocaust survivor said on Thursday he would return his federal order of merit award to the German state in protest over a parliamentary vote in which support from the far-right was used for the first time to secure a majority.

A 99-year-old German Holocaust survivor said on Thursday he wants to return his Order of Merit - Germany's highest honour - after a controversial motion demanding reforms to migration policy passed in parliament due to far-right votes.

Germany’s parliament is expected to vote Friday on an opposition bill calling for tougher rules on migration that could become the first legislation to pass thanks to a far-right party — adding to a controversy about the attitude of the front-runner in Germany’s upcoming election toward the far right.