Merz slams AfD as ‘disruptive force’ after landslide in Saxony-Anhalt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz harshly criticized the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "destructive force" following their significant electoral victory in Saxony-Anhalt last weekend. Merz and AfD co-leader Alice Weidel faced off in parliament for the first time since the election, which saw the anti-immigrant AfD secure 43.8% of the vote, just shy of an absolute majority. Meanwhile, Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) lost nearly 20 percentage points, polling at 17.2%.

Accusing the AfD of harboring "contempt for our democratic institutions" and "constantly belittling our state's representatives," Merz denounced the party's support for "remigration," a term often used in far-right circles to refer to large-scale deportations, as akin to "ethnic cleansing" based on origin and skin color. He also lambasted the pro-Russian AfD for its backing of Moscow, emphasizing Germany's commitment to supporting Kiev, as Ukraine defends the freedom that Germany itself defends.

Emphasizing the AfD's inability to achieve an absolute majority with its policies anywhere in Germany, Merz described the party as a "destructive force" intent on destabilizing the nation.