Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under fire after his party suffered a major defeat in a regional election, as the far-right AfD surged forward — with leader Alice Weidel bluntly declaring voters “pulverized” his party and predicting a soon-to-come governing mandate. Merz defiantly called the results “remarkable,” dismissed the AfD’s chances of winning majorities nationwide, and labeled Weidel a “destructive force,” accusing her party of war propaganda, pro-Russia stances, and ethnic cleansing rhetoric around “remigration.” He also noted his own government supports deportations but insists on distinguishing between contributors and those without legal rights to stay. The AfD’s win in Saxony-Anhalt has drawn international attention, including a nod from Donald Trump, who praised the populist surge amid growing public frustration with immigration policies — signaling this regional upset may be just the start of a broader political shift across Germany as discontent over economy and governance continues to boil.

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