Merz likens AfD migration plans to 'ethnic cleansing' in heated Bundestag debate

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz compared the far-right AfD's migration plans to "ethnic cleansing" during a heated parliamentary debate on Wednesday, following the party's historic election win in Saxony-Anhalt. The confrontation marked a bitter escalation between the government and the opposition. The AfD, classified as extremist by domestic security services, won nearly 44 percent of votes in Sunday's state election, while Chancellor Merz's CDU fell to 17 percent. AfD leader Alice Weidel accused Merz's coalition of "total failure" and demanded an end to Ukraine aid, resumption of Russian gas imports, and mass deportations. Merz defended his government, arguing the AfD's "remigration" plans would affect millions, noting one in six skilled workers has a migration background. He insisted the AfD would never achieve an absolute majority in Germany, while parliamentary president Julia Klöckner threatened to eject disruptive lawmakers from the chamber.