Merz accuses AfD of 'ethnic cleansing' policies in Bundestag speech

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right AfD party of supporting Russia against German interests and advocating anti-immigration policies comparable to "ethnic cleansing" during a Bundestag speech on Wednesday. Merz warned that AfD's "remigration" plans would cripple essential services, noting one in six service sector workers holds a foreign passport, making hospitals, nursing homes, and restaurants unable to function. He called remigration a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on skin color and origin. The AfD won the Saxony-Anhalt state election but failed to secure an absolute majority, with 56% of voters backing other parties. Holocaust survivor Eva Umlauf expressed shock at the result, while minority communities voiced concerns.