Merz Accuses AfD of Ethnic Cleansing After Election Win

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party of advocating "ethnic cleansing" through its proposed "remigration" policies. Merz made the accusation in the Bundestag on Wednesday, following the AfD's strong performance in the recent Saxony-Anhalt state election. The AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote in the eastern state but fell three seats short of an absolute majority, leaving the formation of a state government uncertain. Addressing parliament, Merz stated that the AfD's "remigration" policy, which aims to speed up deportations of rejected asylum seekers and encourage voluntary departures, would be "nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin colour." He warned that implementing such broad removals of migrants would create severe skill shortages, potentially crippling sectors like healthcare, elder care, and the restaurant industry. Merz also criticized the AfD for its stance on Russia, accusing the party of consistently supporting Moscow and opposing military assistance for Ukraine.