AfD leader urges snap elections to replace Merz before Christmas
Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right AfD party, urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday to call immediate snap elections so he can be replaced "before Christmas." She made the demand following her party's victory in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Weidel called the result "historic," citing preliminary figures of nearly 44% for the AfD versus 17.5% for Merz's CDU. She argued Germans are tired of politics against national interests, pledging to cut spending, control borders, and deport criminals. She also blamed former Chancellor Angela Merkel and Merz for Germany's decline. Weidel predicted CDU support would fall below 20% nationally and that the party would consider replacing Merz. Co-leader Tino Chrupalla said 2029 would be a decisive election year for the AfD to govern Germany. Weidel also advocated diplomacy with Russia and good relations with the US.