Bundestag: Merz nennt AfD „destruktive Kraft“

Three days after the AfD's resounding victory over the ruling CDU in Saxony-Anhalt, the party's chair Alice Weidel opened the General Debate in the Bundestag, followed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU. Just hours before, the AfD received congratulations from US President Donald Trump, who viewed the party and its supporters as "in the wind."

The debate between the two party leaders is expected to focus on the AfD's triumph in Saxony-Anhalt, where they more than doubled their 2021 results, securing 43.8% of the votes and becoming the strongest party. The CDU, on the other hand, saw a significant drop in support, falling nearly 20 percentage points to 17.2%. The General Debate in the Bundestag is scheduled for four hours, with all party leaders expected to speak before the Bundestag debates the budgets for Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Development.

CDU Chancellor Merz acknowledged responsibility for the election setback in Saxony-Anhalt and stated that he would not resign. He emphasized his commitment to his planned reforms, but also hinted at talks with the SPD regarding possible changes. Merz recognized the need to communicate reforms not only rationally but emotionally as well.

He called for a broader reach to people's emotional sides. Just before the election, Merz had called for a fundamental debate in the CDU on a new narrative for Germany, beyond just policy, to find a "subtitle above what we do together." Merz proposed the title "Prosperity for All Generations," aiming to create a new generation contract.

Weidel called Merz a "great burden for a flourishing development in Germany" and set a minimum target of 40% for the AfD in the next Bundestag election, claiming that the CDU/CSU would never win a Bundestag election again, a fact he asserted. The AfD was confident in receiving support from US President Trump, who called the AfD's victory a "really great night" and dismissed their "horrible immigration rules."

Trump expressed admiration for the AfD, stating that they had found their "vindication" by being in the "wind" again and would not tolerate it any longer. Trump closed his remarks with "MGGA!!!", presumably standing for "Make Germany Great Again." Since his inauguration in January 2025, the AfD has reportedly become more closely connected to US politics, with AfD representatives traveling to Washington for President Trump's inauguration.

US Vice President JD Vance warned fellow politicians at the Munich Security Conference about dismissing the will of millions of voters due to their opposition to populist parties and "political firebreaks."