German Chancellor Friedrich Merz engaged in a heated parliamentary confrontation with opposition leader Alice Weidel, denouncing her party’s recent electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt and accusing the group of promoting policies that effectively amount to ethnic cleansing targeting skilled immigrants.

The clash occurred within the Bundestag immediately following the far-right party's sweeping victory in the eastern state, where they captured nearly 44% of the vote. This result halved the conservatives' support and signaled a seismic shift in German politics, prompting Merz to directly challenge Weidel’s assertions that his coalition with the centre-left was a complete failure.

During the session, which was marked by loud disruptions from AfD MPs, Merz emphasized the economic dangers of the opposition's stance. He pointed out that one in six skilled workers in Germany has a migration background. According to the Chancellor, implementing the AfD’s proposed policies would amount to "nothing other than an ethnic cleansing in the skilled trades based on skin colour and origin." While the government acknowledges that some deportations are necessary, Merz stressed the critical distinction made between those who contribute to German prosperity and those without permanent residency.

The intensity of the debate was palpable, with Bundestag President Julia Klöckner warning that the chamber was not a "football pitch" amid the constant heckling. Weidel argued that mass migration had led to daily knife violence and attacks on public transport, urging voters to reject Merz’s governance. However, Merz countered by warning that the AfD’s plans would paralyze essential services, leaving no single care home, hospital, or restaurant able to function due to a lack of staff.

The election results in Saxony-Anhalt have drawn international attention, including praise from US President Donald Trump, who linked the victory to "absolutely horrible immigration rules and regulations." This praise comes even as the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt has been labeled "right-wing extremist" by domestic intelligence. The party has pledged a "deportation and remigration" offensive against irregular migrants but fell three seats short of an outright majority. It remains unclear if they can form a government, marking the first time since World War Two that any far-right party has won power in a German state.