Merz accuses AfD of seeking 'ethnic cleansing by skin color and origin' in Bundestag debate

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the AfD of seeking "ethnic cleansing based on skin color and origin" during a heated parliamentary debate, sharply criticizing the party's "remigration" demands. He also accused the AfD of deceiving its voters in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz defended the government's Ukraine policy, accusing the AfD of reversing "perpetrator and victim" roles and siding with Russia. He also defended the government's economic agenda, acknowledging past energy policy errors. AfD leader Alice Weidel had earlier attacked Merz, claiming his CDU was "pulverized" in the state election and that citizens want a political change. Other party leaders joined the attack on the AfD, with the SPD urging prevention of an AfD-led government in Magdeburg, the Union criticizing unaffordable promises, and the Greens calling for a ban review on the party.