Merz dampens hopes for AfD ban, backs EU budget cuts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reiterated his skepticism about pursuing a ban on the far-right AfD party, stating he doubts such a procedure would succeed and that it would not solve the problems driving voters to the party. He emphasized his priority is political engagement to win voters back to the political center. Merz made the remarks at a joint press conference with EU Council President António Costa in Berlin. His comments come after North Rhine-Westphalia's state premier Hendrik Wüst proposed having an expert working group examine a potential ban, a move already met with skepticism from other CDU/CSU leaders but supported by the SPD and Greens. The AfD is classified as a confirmed right-wing extremist group in several German states. Separately, Merz used the press conference to push for hundreds of billions in cuts to the EU's proposed 2028-2034 budget, which he said needs realism and reform.