German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly attacked the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) during a debate in parliament, classifying the party's 'remigration' plans as 'ethnic cleansing'. This was one of the most direct criticisms Merz has ever made publicly of the AfD.
Merz's offensive comes just days after the AfD achieved a historic victory in the regional elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, consolidating itself as a major political force in Germany. The party has been gaining ground consistently across various German states.
The AfD's 'remigration' plans provide for the mass deportation of millions of people, including German citizens with migratory roots. This proposal has been widely criticized by parties across the political spectrum as antidemocratic and incompatible with the fundamental values of the German Constitution.
The debate in parliament highlights the growing political tension in Germany, with Merz's government facing increasingly strong far-right opposition. The AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt marks another chapter in the rise of populist parties in the German political landscape.
