Germany's Merz attacks AfD in stormy debate after far-right election win

What the report says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a debate in the Bundestag to mount a sharp attack on Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel after the far-right party’s strong result in Saxony-Anhalt. According to BBC World News, Merz described the AfD as a destructive force and rejected its migration platform, arguing that its talk of “remigration” would harm Germany’s skilled workforce. He also accused the party of undermining German interests through its stance on Russia.

The confrontation came after the AfD won almost 44% of the vote in the eastern state, while Merz’s conservatives saw their support fall sharply. Weidel told lawmakers that the result showed Merz’s governing coalition with the Social Democrats had failed. The party did not secure an outright majority in the state parliament, so forming a government is still uncertain.

BBC World News reported that the debate was marked by repeated heckling from AfD MPs, forcing the Bundestag president to warn that expulsions could follow. Merz said Germany must distinguish between people who contribute to the economy and those without a right to stay, while Weidel argued mass migration had increased violence. The exchange underscores how the AfD’s rise is intensifying political tensions in Germany, where mainstream parties continue to keep a firewall against cooperation with the far right.