BERLIN – First the attack, very harsh, on Alternative für Deutschland, then the step towards the coalition partners of the SPD on pension reform, finally the slap to Donald Trump. Cornered by the defeat in Saxony-Anhalt and the contestation within his own party, Chancellor Friedrich Merz shows the harshness that distinguishes him and often penalizes him.
Read more The Marmolada glacier increasingly reduced: nine hectares less than last year
Ask the Sun
The questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI
based on the displayed content.
«Remigration means ethnic cleansing»
In a chaotic parliamentary session, interrupted by verbal clashes, on Wednesday, September 9, Merz lashed out at Alice Weidel’s party, which has been demanding his resignation and ridiculing him for days. To the political force that wants to expel immigrants from Germany, Merz said that “the term remigration is nothing but a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color.” He thus emphasized a divide that in his mind is now impassable and that prevents any collaboration with those who are bleeding the CDU dry in terms of support. A warning to the Christian Democrats elected in the Saxony-Anhalt Parliament, those whom the AfD Spitzenkandidat, Ulrich Siegmund, is trying to convince, hunting for the three missing votes to become governor.
One might ask: if Merz really believes that AfD pursues ethnic cleansing plans (the party has angrily denied it), why not support the ban proposal. During the last legislature, a Christian Democrat, Marco Wanderwitz, had presented a motion to the Bundestag to activate the procedure, together with the Social Democrat Carmen Wegge. The debate has reignited in recent weeks, but AfD is now the leading force in the country, just shy of 30% of the vote.
Read more Ex Ilva, judges in the field on the suspension: verdict expected by Tuesday
In the evening, at a press conference, Merz confirmed his skepticism “about whether a ban procedure can succeed and whether it can solve the issue of the vote decline.”
Tensions with Trump
A few hours later, the German government canceled the scheduled call between Merz and Trump for the anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers. The chancellor did not digest the repeated celebration by the US president for the AfD victory. That the White House sides with sovereigntists across Europe is certainly not news. Nor are the ties between Alternative für Deutschland and the Maga movement.
Read more The German company Isar launches the first European commercial rocket for satellites into orbit
