Paul Kirby, Europe digital editor, Getty Images/Reuters: Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced off with AfD leader Alice Weidel in parliament after the far-right party's sweeping victory in Saxony-Anhalt, where it won nearly 44% of the vote. Merz accused the AfD of a 'destructive force' with a migration policy he called 'ethnic cleansing' for skilled workers. Weidel responded, saying voters rejected Merz's coalition with the centre-left and demanded his resignation.
Merz countered that the AfD's support for Russia and 'remigration' policies would harm Germany's interests, affecting millions. The AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt—where it fell short of an outright majority—has been praised by US President Donald Trump, who linked it to 'absolutely horrible immigration rules.' The party, labeled 'right-wing extremist' by German intelligence, has promised deportations and remigration targeting irregular migrants. Disruptions in parliament led Chancellor Merz to warn of 'ethnic cleansing' in skilled trades based on skin color and origin, while AfD MPs heckled him.
Weidel accused Merz's government of driving Germany toward bankruptcy, while Merz denied the AfD's claims of winning an outright majority. The AfD is exploring potential alliances with left-wing populist BSW, potentially breaking the 'firewall' against far-right cooperation. Meanwhile, AfD leader Alice Weidel and Chancellor Merz engaged in heated debate, with Merz calling her party a 'destructive force' and accusing it of misleading voters about its candidate's eligibility for state premiership.
Source: BBC
