From BBC News · · 1 min
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.
In brief
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 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…
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.
Here's the gist
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.
