AfD files criminal complaint against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has filed a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz following his recent comments regarding the party's migration policies. The legal action follows a parliamentary debate in Saxony-Anhalt, where Merz characterized the AfD's concept of ‘remigration’ as a synonym for ‘ethnic cleansing’ based on origin and skin color.

Stephan Brandner, the AfD parliamentary secretary, stated that Merz's remarks are criminal in nature and ‘completely unacceptable,’ asserting that the party remains committed to the German Constitution. Merz had argued that the AfD's proposed mass deportation campaigns would threaten key pillars of the German economy.

The term ‘remigration’ is a point of intense contention. While the AfD maintains the term refers to the return of foreign nationals who are legally required to leave, German domestic intelligence services describe the concept as an attempt to create ethnically defined societies by deporting all non-native residents.