Friedrich Merz launches scathing attack on AfD: “Remigration” means ethnic cleansing, German chancellor says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party on Wednesday of pursuing “ethnic cleansing” through its “remigration” campaign, in his first public confrontation with the party after its success in Sunday’s elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

In a tense debate in the Bundestag, Merz argued that the mass expulsion of immigrants would seriously harm Germany’s economy, where millions of people from abroad work in hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and other essential sectors. However, the chancellor distinguished between immigrants who work and contribute to the country’s prosperity and people without the right to permanent residence, whom he said must be expelled.

The AfD won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, but does not hold an absolute majority. Merz accused the party of dividing society and aligning itself with Russia, while also criticizing the party’s silence over a failed kamikaze drone attack at Leipzig airport, which Berlin says was planned in Russia. The AfD is also leading in national polls, with 28–29%, while Merz’s coalition is losing support.