AfD files criminal complaint against Merz

The German chancellor’s claim that calls for remigration are in fact calls for ethnic cleansing is “defamatory,” the right-wing party has alleged The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has filed a criminal complaint against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he claimed that the right-wing party is calling for ethnic cleansing. Merz made the remark in a heated parliamentary debate following the AfD’s resounding victory in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt.The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, according to multiple polls, enjoying the support of 28% of respondents nationally. The right-wing opposition Eurosceptic party advocates tougher immigration controls and is also highly critical of the German government’s support for Ukraine, as well as sanctions against Russia.In a statement on Thursday, the AfD parliamentary group – the largest opposition faction in the German parliament – accused Merz of defamation that goes beyond constitutionally protected free speech in parliament. Speaking in the Bundestag on Wednesday, the chancellor claimed that in promoting ‘remigration’ the AfD is essentially advocating “ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color.”Stephan Brandner, ...