Merz accuses AfD of 'ethnic cleansing' in Bundestag clash over migration policy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right AfD of promoting "ethnic cleansing" during a heated Bundestag clash with co-leader Alice Weidel on Wednesday, three days after the party's strong election win in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz condemned the AfD's "remigration" policy, which calls for mass deportations of rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants, calling it "ethnic cleansing by skin colour and origin." The AfD won nearly 44% of the vote in Sunday's state election, far ahead of Merz's CDU at 17%. Weidel defended the policy, citing crime and safety concerns from migration, while Merz warned it would cripple labour sectors and accused the AfD of aiding Russian destabilisation efforts. The AfD, short of an absolute majority by three seats, is now seeking coalition talks to form a state government.