German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clashed directly with Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel in the Bundestag on Wednesday, labeling her far-right party a destructive force whose migration policies amount to ethnic cleansing for skilled workers. The parliamentary showdown followed the AfD’s sweeping victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the anti-immigration party captured nearly 44% of the vote while the conservative vote was halved.
Parliamentary Clash and Policy Disputes in the Bundestag
During the fiery parliamentary session, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued that the AfD has actively harmed German interests by supporting Russia. Merz also criticized the party’s deportation plans, stating that its remigration policy would negatively affect millions of people. In response, AfD leader Alice Weidel told members of parliament that voters had proven Merz’s coalition with the centre-left was a total failure and declared that his time in office was up.
Historic State Election Results Across Eastern Germany
The AfD secured 32.8 percent of the vote in Thuringia, placing it well ahead of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at 23.6 percent. In neighboring Saxony, the CDU narrowly maintained first place ahead of a surging AfD. Senior AfD leader Bjoern Hoecke declared himself filled with pride and ready to govern, though mainstream parties have maintained a strict firewall to exclude the far-right from power.
International Reactions and Postponed Diplomatic Calls
US President Donald Trump praised the AfD’s success, stating that the populist party had a really big night and linking the victory to immigration rules. Meanwhile, a planned phone call between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—scheduled for Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks—was postponed by the Berlin government without an immediate explanation or a newly set date.
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