German Chancellor Friedrich Merz engaged in a heated dispute with AfD leader Alice Weidel in the Bundestag, labeling her party a «dangerous force». The Chancellor stated that the AfD’s migration policy could lead to «ethnic cleansing» among skilled workers.
The confrontation followed the AfD‘s decisive victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the party secured nearly 44% of the vote. Meanwhile, support for Merz’s conservative bloc fell by half to 17.2%.
Weidel told lawmakers that voters had demonstrated the total failure of the coalition between Merz and the center-left Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), adding that his time as Chancellor «has ended». In response, Merz accused the AfD of harming Germany‘s interests through its support for Russia and warned that the party’s «remigration» policy could affect millions of people.
Merz emphasized that one in six skilled workers in Germany has a migrant background. He stated that implementing the AfD’s policy would mean «nothing less than ethnic cleansing in the skilled labor sector based on skin colour and origin». He noted that the government acknowledges the need for certain deportations but must clearly distinguish between those contributing to Germany’s prosperity and those without permanent residency status.
AfD victory and the battle for the state government
It remains unclear whether the AfD will be able to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt, as the party fell three seats short of an absolute majority. Since World War II, no far‑right party has held power in any of Germany’s 16 states.
Merz described the election result as «ground‑breaking» and admitted it has changed Germany. However, the Chancellor insisted that the AfD would not be able to secure an absolute majority nationwide.
He also accused the party of misleading voters regarding its candidate for state premier, Ulrich Siegmund. Before the election, the AfD claimed Siegmund would only lead the government if the party won a majority; however, after the vote, the party began seeking allies.
The AfD is now open to cooperation with other parties, including the left‑wing populist BSW, provided they support Siegmund for state premier. Siegmund’s deputy in Saxony‑Anhalt even suggested the possibility of working with Merz’s CDU if the conservatives abandon their so‑called «firewall» — the convention that mainstream parties avoid alliances with the far‑right.
Migration takes centre stage in the dispute
The success of the AfD, which the German domestic intelligence agency classifies as «right‑wing extremist», was welcomed by US President Donald Trump. He stated that «Germany’s populist party just had a really big night», linking its victory to «terrible rules and regulations on immigration».
During the Bundestag session, AfD lawmakers repeatedly interrupted the Chancellor. The situation became so rowdy that Bundestag President Julia Klöckner threatened to remove members from the chamber, stating: «We are not on a football field».
Weidel claimed that mass migration has led to daily knife attacks, as well as assaults on trains and at train stations. Merz countered by warning that the AfD’s policies would create a situation where no nursing home, hospital, or restaurant could function properly.
The Chancellor also called the AfD a «dangerous force» and accused the party of deceiving voters. «You are and will remain a dangerous force», Merz declared, criticizing the AfD’s decision to seek partners after the election despite previously tying government formation to winning an outright majority.
Source: BBC World
