{
  "id": 6411920,
  "title": "Germany’s Merz accuses AfD of promoting ‘ethnic cleansing’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/germanys-merz-accuses-afd-of-promoting-ethnic-cleansing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T10:22:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/09/germany-s-merz-accuses-afd-of-promoting-ethnic-cleansing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz denounced the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's call for mass deportations of rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants, branding it an act of ethnic cleansing based on race and origin. This came during a tense parliamentary session following the AfD's significant electoral victory in Saxony-Anhalt. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel retaliated, criticizing Merz's coalition government as outdated and unsafe, citing increasing incidents of violence and migration-related issues. Merz responded by warning of the AfD's opposition to immigration's detrimental effects on various sectors, including care homes and hospitals. He also accused the AfD of aiding Russia's destabilization efforts, following a drone attack on Leipzig airport believed to be state-sponsored. The AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote, leaving the CDU with 17%, and is now seeking to form a coalition government. However, parliamentary speaker Julia Kloeckner reprimanded the disruptive AfD members, warning of potential expulsion for such behavior.",
  "summary": "The German chancellor made the remarks three days after the AfD scored a crushing election victory over his centre-right CDU in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Germany news: Merz, Weidel face off after AfD state win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/germany-news-merz-weidel-face-off-after-afd-state-win",
        "published": "2026-09-09T08:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Germany’s Merz accuses AfD of promoting ‘ethnic cleansing’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/germanys-merz-accuses-afd-of-promoting-ethnic-cleansing-6412651",
        "published": "2026-09-09T10:22:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Germany's Merz attacks AfD in stormy debate after far-right election win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/germanys-merz-attacks-afd-in-stormy-debate-after-far-right-election",
        "published": "2026-09-09T11:24:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "France co-hosts major space summit with Germany despite US firms' withdrawals and Merz absence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/france-co-hosts-major-space-summit-with-germany-despite-us-firms",
        "published": "2026-09-09T12:01:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}