Merz accuses AfD of 'ethnic cleansing' after election defeat in Saxony-Anhalt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right AfD of promoting "ethnic cleansing" during a Bundestag debate on Wednesday, following his party's heavy defeat in the Saxony-Anhalt regional election. Berlin also postponed a scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump. Merz equated the AfD's "remigration" concept with ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color, warning of economic damage if foreign workers were expelled. The AfD won nearly 44% of the vote on Sunday, far ahead of Merz's CDU at 17%. Trump had praised the AfD's victory on Truth Social with "MGGA" ("Make Germany Great Again"), prompting German officials to assert national independence in immigration and electoral matters. The postponed call was linked to the September 11 anniversary.