Merz accuses AfD of pushing 'ethnic cleansing' in Bundestag debate

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the far-right AfD party of promoting "ethnic cleansing" during a Bundestag debate on Wednesday, following his party's heavy defeat in regional elections in eastern Germany. Merz said the term "remigration" is synonymous with ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color, and warned that key economic sectors like crafts, care facilities, and restaurants would fail if workers were forced to leave. He also downplayed the AfD's electoral success, noting 56% of Saxony-Anhalt voters did not support them. The AfD, which won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, is seeking to form a government, but Merz insisted they will never achieve a majority anywhere in Germany.