Germany's Merz attacks AfD in parliament after far-right election win - BBC News

Germany's chancellor clashes with AfD leader Alice Weidel, saying her migration policy amounts to "ethnic cleansing" for skilled workers.

Image source, Getty Images/ReutersImage caption, Merz and Weidel faced off for the first time since Sunday's AfD election victory

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has clashed with AfD leader Alice Weidel in parliament, calling her party a "destructive force" with a migration policy that amounts to "ethnic cleansing" for skilled workers.

Merz was addressing the Bundestag in the aftermath of the anti-immigration party's sweeping victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt where it won almost 44% of the vote, while the chancellor's conservatives saw their vote halved.

Weidel told MPs that voters had shown that Merz's coalition with the centre left was a total failure and his time was up.

Merz hit back saying the AfD had harmed German interests by backing Russia, and its "remigration" policy would affect millions.