The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday accused the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) of advocating "ethnic cleansing" with its "remigration" proposal, marking his first public confrontation with the party since its historic victory in Sunday's elections in Saxony-Anhalt. During a debate in the Bundestag, the Lower House of Parliament, Merz stated that the term "remigration" is nothing more than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color.
The Chancellor also attacked the AfD's rapprochement with Russia and stated that a mass deportation policy would put fundamental sectors of Europe's largest economy at risk. Merz also said that the hallmark of the far-right party's politics is contempt for democratic institutions and the constant personal disqualification of State representatives.
The accusation was made under applause from parliamentarians from other parties present at the session. The confrontation occurs in the context of a historic advance of the far-right in Germany, which achieved a wide lead in a regional election, although it should have limited governance options.
