Merz rejects AfD ban as no solution to voter concerns

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has dismissed renewed calls to ban the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), saying such a move would not "solve the problem" perceived by the party's voters. He made the remarks at a press conference with European Council President António Costa in Berlin. Merz's comments came three days after the AfD won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, narrowly missing an absolute majority. North Rhine-Westphalia's premier Hendrik Wüst had revived calls for an investigation into the party's anti-constitutional aims, but Merz noted the legal hurdle for a ban is "very high." Under German law, a party ban requires an official petition from parliament or the government before the Federal Constitutional Court can act. Merz argued mainstream parties should instead win back AfD voters with a convincing political programme, while the party's "confirmed" extremist classification in some eastern states remains suspended pending a court case.