German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, accusing its “remigration” campaign of being a veiled attempt at “ethnic cleansing” following its recent breakthrough in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
During a heated parliamentary debate, Merz confronted the far-right party directly for the first time since the shocking election results, arguing that the AfD’s aggressive push for mass deportations would severely damage key pillars of the German economy.
“The concept of ‘remigration’ is merely a euphemism for ethnic cleansing targeting individuals based on their origin or skin color,” Merz declared to loud applause from other parties in the Bundestag lower house.
Delivering a fiery speech to the AfD parliamentary group—frequently interrupted by loud jeering and heckling from its members—Merz emphasized that millions of immigrant workers are vital to the fabric of German society.
“If you force hardworking immigrants to leave the country under your so-called ‘remigration’ policies, the skilled trades sector will collapse entirely: not a single care facility will remain open, no hospital will stay operational, and restaurants across the nation will be forced to shut down,” Merz warned.
Merz stated that the AfD’s intense rhetoric, which drove the party to its best state-level performance since the Nazi era, is precisely what is deeply fracturing German society.
While the AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, it fell three seats short of an absolute majority. Party leader Ulrich Siegmund is now actively seeking potential coalition partners among other parties to secure his election as state premier.
Merz, who has acknowledged that his declining popularity contributed to the halving of his party’s support, attempted to project confidence despite the defeat. “Fifty-six percent of voters in Saxony-Anhalt chose not to support your platform,” he pointedly told the AfD.
Merz accused Siegmund—whose party is classified as a right-wing extremist entity by domestic intelligence agencies—of “electoral fraud” for already abandoning a campaign pledge not to seek the governorship in the absence of an absolute majority.
“And you will not replicate this success at the federal level,” Merz told AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. “You will not find a majority anywhere in Germany; you remain a purely destructive political force.”
Additionally, Merz criticized the AfD’s stance against military aid to Ukraine, accusing the party of aligning too closely with Russia. Berlin has alleged that Moscow is actively conducting sabotage and disinformation operations within German borders.
Merz highlighted that despite “clear evidence” indicating the failed drone bomb attack at Leipzig airport last month was planned in Russia over several months and specifically targeted Germany, the AfD has remained conspicuously silent on the threat.
Earlier in the session, Alice Weidel relished the party’s resounding election victory from the podium, asserting that the center-right CDU had been “pulverized” and framing the election as a direct referendum on Merz’s leadership.
Weidel attacked the government’s migration policies, blaming them for rising crime and security concerns, and declared, “Your time is up. The public demands a policy shift, and they will get it,” reiterating the AfD’s goal of forming a federal government in the near future.
Current polling suggests that Merz’s coalition would fail to secure a majority in a general election, though the next national vote is not scheduled until 2029.
The AfD is currently leading in polls at 28% to 29%, building momentum ahead of two additional state elections scheduled for later this month in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
