AfD files criminal complaint against Merz for 'ethnic cleansing' charge
The German AfD party is filing a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his remarks comparing their 'remigration' policy to 'ethnic cleansing.' The dispute highlights deep political tensions regarding immigration rhetoric and free speech laws in Germany.
Why it matters
The legal battle underscores the volatile nature of political discourse in Germany and the ongoing debate over the boundaries of protected speech versus defamation.
Germany's far-right opposition AfD party said late Thursday (September 11, 2026) it would ask for criminal defamation charges against Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he accused the party of promoting "ethnic cleansing".
"We have come to a decision to file a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz," AfD MP Stephan Brandner said in a video posted to X, calling Mr. Merz's remarks in parliament "reprehensible".
Mr. Merz on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) had accused the AfD in a heated parliamentary exchange of promoting ethnic cleansing to howls of protest from the opposition party's ranks.
"The word 'remigration' is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing," Mr. Merz said of the AfD's flagship slogan.
"Remigration is nothing other than ethnic cleansing by skin colour and origin."
The AfD contends that "remigration" refers to deporting foreign criminals and those who have come to Germany illegally.
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