Merz slams AfD as 'disruptive force' after landslide in Saxony-Anhalt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday went on the offensive against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), calling it a "destructive force" intent on destabilizing the country, following their landslide victory in a key state election last weekend.

Merz and AfD co-leader Alice Weidel faced off in parliament for the first time since Sunday's election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, which saw the anti-immigrant AfD take a record 43.8%, falling just short of an absolute majority.

By contrast, Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) saw support plunge by almost 20 percentage points to 17.2%.

Merz accused the AfD, which has been classified as confirmed far-right extremist in Saxony-Anhalt, of harbouring "contempt for our democratic institutions" and of "constantly belittling our state’s representatives."

He said the AfD's calls for remigration, a term widely used in far-right circles for large-scale deportations, was akin to seeking "ethnic cleansing" based on origin and skin colour.

Merz, whose speech was repeatedly disrupted by AfD lawmakers, also slammed the pro-Russian party for its support for Moscow, stressing that Germany would continue to support Kiev "because it is also defending our freedom."

Describing the AfD as a "destructive force," Merz claimed that "nowhere in Germany" would the party be able to achieve an absolute majority with its policies.

Despite a past promise from Merz to halve support for the AfD, national polling has put the AfD in first place ahead of Merz's conservatives for months, amid widespread discontent with his unpopular coalition government that has struggled to revive the economy and push through much-needed reforms.

Merz's coalition 'is over'

Weidel, who opened the general debate during the Bundestag's Budget Week in her capacity as leader of the opposition, used her time to fiercely attack the Merz government, claiming that the AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt had heralded the end of the national coalition.

"The voters in Saxony-Anhalt have made it abundantly clear to you, in the language of the democratic sovereign: the Black-Red coalition is over," Weidel told Merz, referring to the party colours of his conservatives and the junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD).

Weidel also criticized Merz for his economic policy, accusing him of pursuing an unprecedented policy of debt.

"You are driving Germany into national bankruptcy in record time," she said, adding that the draft budget was a declaration of surrender.

Merz's government loosened Germany's tight debt rules last year to pave the way for a massive increase in investments in defence, infrastructure and climate action.

Merz signals potential shift on pensions reform

Merz has faced criticism within his own party over the scale of the defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, but has ruled out stepping down as chancellor despite acknowledging mistakes.

Addressing lawmakers on Wednesday, the chancellor signalled openness to reconsider parts of a planned controversial pensions reform, in remarks that appeared to reflect the results in Saxony-Anhalt.

Merz reiterated the importance of pushing ahead with the planned reforms to "regain economic growth." But he also conceded that parts of the planned overhaul of the pensions system were contentious. 

"Of course there will be discussions about this. And of course we will have to look at the details," he said.

Merz's government has received a lot of flak for plans to abolish a rule that previously allowed people to start receiving state pension without reduction from the age of 63 after 45 years of contributions.

No clear path in Saxony-Anhalt

Sunday's results suggest difficult negotiations may lie ahead in Saxony-Anhalt, as all mainstream parties have ruled out cooperating with the far right, in a policy known as the "firewall."

Before the elections, the AfD had also insisted that it would only enter government with an absolute majority, but appears to have softened that position since the results were announced.

With the potential tacit support of the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), the AfD could seek to form a minority government in Saxony-Anhalt, or potentially garner support from individual defectors within the CDU.

Merz accused the AfD of betraying voters, noting that just hours after polls closed, the AfD leadership urged Ulrich Siegmund, its top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, to reach out to other parties to find a majority, even though Siegmund had repeatedly stressed before the vote that he would only govern if the AfD achieved an absolute majority.