Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, launched a forceful parliamentary attack against the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) following the far-right party’s substantial victory in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz characterized the AfD’s “remigration” platform as fundamentally equivalent to ethnic cleansing based on ethnicity and race, arguing that such mass deportation policies would severely damage Germany’s economy and essential services.
During the debate in the Bundestag, Merz emphasized that millions of immigrant workers were vital to German prosperity and that removing them would cripple critical sectors including healthcare, social services, and hospitality. He contrasted his coalition government’s approach, which he described as making careful distinctions between employed immigrants who contribute to society and those without legal residency, with what he characterized as the AfD’s indiscriminate campaign. Merz also criticized the AfD’s stance on Ukraine military aid and accused the party of aligning with Russian interests, citing alleged Russian involvement in a failed drone attack near Leipzig airport.
The parliamentary confrontation occurred amid significant political turbulence for Merz, whose approval ratings have declined substantially in his 16 months leading a coalition government. The AfD secured nearly 44 percent of votes in the state election, falling just short of an absolute majority. In response to Trump’s congratulatory post about the AfD’s performance, Merz canceled a scheduled phone call with the U.S. president, with his office citing objections to foreign commentary on German domestic politics and elections.
The AfD’s strong showing reflects broader patterns of populist and nationalist sentiment across Europe and beyond. Party co-leader Alice Weidel used the parliamentary session to declare that voters had rejected Merz’s leadership and demanded policy changes on migration and security matters. Current polling indicates the AfD leads at 28 to 29 percent nationally, with the party positioning itself as a potential federal government contender before the next national election in 2029.
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