# Merz Clashes With AfD Leader Following Far-Right Election Win

> German Chancellor Friedrich Merz directly challenged the AfD in parliament after the far-right party secured a massive victory in Saxony-Anhalt.
- Title: Merz Clashes With AfD Leader Following Far-Right Election Win
- Summary: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz directly challenged the AfD in parliament after the far-right party secured a massive victory in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD's…
- Keywords: germany, afd, friedrich merz, elections, europe, news, world, Merz, Clashes, Leader, Following, Far-Right
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98679wr78do
- Published: 2026-09-09T11:24:10.985+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: germany, afd, friedrich merz, elections, europe, news, world
## Bundestag clash over far-right win
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz exchanged sharp attacks with AfD leader Alice Weidel in parliament following a historic state election outcome in eastern Germany.

> You are and will remain a destructive force
## A seismic shift in Saxony-Anhalt
The anti-immigration AfD won nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, halving support for Merz's conservative CDU down to 17.2%.
## Warnings over worker deportations
Merz denounced the AfD's deportation plans, warning that removing foreign-born workers would leave hospitals, care homes, and trades unable to function.

> nothing other than an ethnic cleansing in the skilled trades based on skin colour and origin
## Opposition declares coalition dead
Alice Weidel claimed voters proved Merz's government had failed and accused his coalition of driving the nation toward economic bankruptcy.
## The battle for state power
Falling three seats short of a majority, the AfD is urging mainstream parties to abandon their firewall policy and cooperate to form a regional government.
## Key takeaway

The AfD's historic win in Saxony-Anhalt has intensified political combat in Berlin, putting pressure on Germany's mainstream parties to uphold their firewall against the far right.