German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has fiercely criticized the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, labeling its migration policy as "ethnic cleansing" for skilled workers during a heated parliamentary debate. The confrontation followed the AfD's substantial win in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the anti-immigration party secured nearly 44% of the vote, while Merz's conservative party saw its support halved.
In the Bundestag, Merz accused the AfD of being a "destructive force" and harming German interests, citing its support for Russia and the potential impact of its proposed "remigration" policy on millions of people. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel countered that the election results demonstrated the failure of Merz's coalition with the center-left and signaled the end of his term.
The AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt, where it fell just short of an outright majority, marks a significant development, as no far-right party has gained power in any of Germany's 16 states since World War II. Merz acknowledged the "seismic" nature of the result, stating that it has altered the political landscape in Germany.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, was seen celebrating the election results. The party has pledged to implement a "deportation and remigration" offensive targeting irregular migrants. Germany's domestic intelligence agency has labeled the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as "right-wing extremist."
Notably, former U.S. President Donald Trump praised the AfD's performance, linking their victory to "absolutely horrible immigration rules and regulations."