A tense televised exchange unfolded between Friedrich Merz and Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel in the wake of the AfD's electoral gains, with Merz sharply criticising the party's migration agenda.
During the debate, Merz charged that Weidel's proposals on migration effectively amounted to "ethnic cleansing" for skilled labour, a phrase that underscored the sharp rhetoric and deep divisions on the issue. Weidel defended her party's position, and the two traded pointed remarks as the programme progressed.
The confrontation came amid renewed scrutiny of the AfD after its recent success at the ballot box, a development that has intensified debate across the German political spectrum about immigration, labour needs and the mainstreaming of far‑right positions. Observers said the heated exchange highlighted the difficulty established parties face in responding to the AfD's rise without amplifying its platform.
The debate is likely to shape public discussion in the coming days as parties consider their responses to the electoral outcome. For now, the clash has underscored both the salience of migration policy in German politics and the increasingly confrontational tone of national political discourse.