German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) of supporting Russia against German interests and of advocating anti-migration policies that he described as tantamount to 'ethnic cleansing'. The accusation came during a heated debate in the German parliament, just days after the AfD surged to victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Merz, who has faced record-low approval ratings and questions about his government's reform agenda, used his speech to draw a sharp contrast between his governing coalition and the opposition party. He said the AfD's calls for 'remigration' would, if implemented, amount to nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin colour.

Merz Confronts AfD Over 'Remigration'

The chancellor was responding to an earlier speech by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. Merz accused the party of deliberately using language that masks a far more radical agenda. 'If what is being advocated here, namely remigration, were to become reality, it would be nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin colour,' Merz told lawmakers.

The AfD has promoted 'remigration' as a central plank of its platform. In its election programme for Saxony-Anhalt, the party advocated policies to speed up deportations of rejected asylum seekers and foreign criminals, and to incentivise people to leave voluntarily. It also wants the children of refugees to be taught in segregated classes.

The party has been classified as right-wing extremist by the local office of Germany's domestic intelligence service. That classification has not prevented its rise in eastern Germany, where economic stagnation, demographic decline and discontent with mainstream parties have fuelled support for the far right.

AfD Denies Charges and Defends Legal Deportations

In a statement, the AfD said Merz was deliberately mischaracterising its position as a way of demonising the party. The party insisted its policies were legal and consistent with German law. AfD lawmaker Bernd Baumann rejected the chancellor's accusation in direct terms.

'By remigration, the AfD means the consistent deportation - in accordance with the law - of all foreigners required to leave the country; nothing else. Chancellor Merz knows this, too,' Baumann said. He added that attributing ethnic cleansing to the AfD as a political goal was a desperate and sordid attempt to maintain a firewall through fabricated demonisation.

The exchange highlighted the deepening polarisation in German politics. The AfD, founded in 2013 as a eurosceptic party during the euro zone crisis, has moved steadily to the right and now campaigns primarily on anti-immigration and anti-establishment themes.

Election Loss in Saxony-Anhalt Raises Pressure on Merz

Merz's speech followed a bruising defeat for his party in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won the largest share of votes on a platform to curb migration and restore ties with Moscow. While the party fell short of an absolute majority, its strong performance has unsettled the political establishment and intensified debate over the so-called firewall that prevents mainstream parties from cooperating with the far right.

Three days after the election, it remained unclear who would form a government in Saxony-Anhalt. Mainstream parties refuse to enter a coalition with the AfD, but the AfD could potentially come to an arrangement with a small leftist party that shares its hostility to mass immigration. Such a scenario would be a significant political earthquake in Germany.

Merz has brushed off suggestions that he might resign. But the election result has put his position and his government's reform programme in question. His approval ratings had already fallen to record lows, and the Saxony-Anhalt result has strengthened critics within his own coalition.

Russia, Ukraine and the Drone Attack

Merz also took aim at the AfD's calls for ending support for Ukraine. He accused the party of being steadfastly on Russia's side, even after a planned drone attack at a German airport last month that Merz said was carried out by Moscow. Russia has denied involvement.

The AfD has long argued that Germany should restore normal relations with Russia and has criticised sanctions imposed after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The party's position has drawn concern from security officials and mainstream politicians who see it as aligned with Kremlin interests.

Merz framed the choice as one between defending German and European security and siding with an authoritarian power. He said the AfD's foreign policy stance would leave Germany isolated among its allies and undermine the country's commitments to NATO and the European Union.

Economic Warning on Migration

Beyond the moral and legal arguments, Merz warned that the AfD's migration policies would have severe economic consequences. He said forcing migrants to leave would create a skill shortage that would backfire on Germany.

'Not a single nursing home will function. Not a single hospital in Germany will remain operational, and not a single restaurant will be able to stay in business - that would be the result of their remigration policy,' Merz said. His comments reflected longstanding concerns that Germany's ageing workforce depends on immigration to fill labour shortages in healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing and other sectors.

Business groups have repeatedly warned that cutting immigration would harm Europe's largest economy. The AfD, however, argues that deporting those without legal residence and reducing asylum numbers would free resources and improve security.

Alarm Among Minority Groups and Holocaust Survivors

Many representatives of minority groups have expressed alarm over the rise of the AfD. Eva Umlauf, a survivor of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz and president of the International Auschwitz Committee, said she was appalled by the election result in Saxony-Anhalt.

Her reaction underscored the sensitivity of the AfD's rise in a country still shaped by the memory of the Holocaust. The AfD rejects comparisons with the Nazi Party. However, opponents accuse the party of downplaying Germany's Nazi past. They point to a comment by one of its leaders in 2018 who described the Nazi period as 'just bird shit in 1,000 years of successful German history'.

That remark, and others like it, have fuelled accusations that the party tolerates or encourages historical revisionism. The AfD's opponents say such statements are part of a broader effort to normalise far-right ideas and shift the boundaries of acceptable political speech.

Firewall Under Strain

The firewall policy has been a cornerstone of German politics since the end of the Second World War. Mainstream parties have refused to cooperate with far-right parties at the federal and state levels. But the AfD's growing electoral strength, particularly in eastern Germany, has made that policy increasingly difficult to maintain.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD won most votes but fell short of a majority. Merz accused the party of breaking its word that it would only govern if it won an absolute majority. 'You failed to achieve your actual electoral goal of securing a majority of seats in Saxony-Anhalt,' Merz said. '56% of voters in Saxony-Anhalt did not vote for you,' he added.

The arithmetic in the state parliament leaves several possible outcomes. A broad coalition of mainstream parties could try to form a government, but such alliances are often unstable and require difficult compromises. Alternatively, the AfD could attempt to reach an agreement with a smaller party, testing the firewall in a new way.

Political analysts say the situation in Saxony-Anhalt is a preview of the challenges facing German democracy. The AfD has built a loyal base by combining anti-immigration rhetoric, opposition to Germany's support for Ukraine and a general rejection of the political establishment. Its critics warn that its policies would isolate Germany, damage its economy and undermine social cohesion.

The debate in parliament also reflected broader tensions over migration, identity and Germany's role in Europe. Merz's decision to use the phrase 'ethnic cleansing' was a deliberate escalation, designed to force the AfD onto the defensive and to rally mainstream voters behind his government. Whether that strategy will work remains uncertain.

For now, the political deadlock in Saxony-Anhalt continues. The AfD has not yet commented on the possibility of an arrangement with the leftist party, and the mainstream parties are weighing their options. The chancellor's government, meanwhile, faces the task of restoring public trust after a series of setbacks.

The coming weeks are likely to bring further negotiations, statements and recriminations. The Saxony-Anhalt result has already reshaped the political conversation, putting the AfD at the centre of national debate and forcing other parties to confront the question of how to respond to its rising influence without adopting its agenda.

Merz's speech marked one of the most direct confrontations between a German chancellor and the AfD in recent memory. By using the term 'ethnic cleansing', he sought to draw a moral line. The AfD, in turn, accused him of fabricating a smear to preserve a political firewall. The clash encapsulates the broader struggle over the future direction of Germany.

As coalition talks continue in Saxony-Anhalt, the national implications are already being felt. The AfD's success has energised its supporters and alarmed its opponents. Mainstream parties must decide whether to maintain the firewall at all costs or to adapt their strategies to a changed political landscape. The outcome will shape German politics for years to come.

Source:MSN News