In an emotionally charged general debate and under the impression of the Saxony-Anhalt election, AfD leader Alice Weidel and CDU leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz fought a speech duel - accompanied by massive heckling from the parliamentary benches.
As a representative of the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, Weidel was the first speaker to open the exchange of blows in parliament shortly after 9 a.m. She used her appearance to launch sharp attacks on the federal government and Chancellor Merz personally. Merz did not understand the message from the voters in Saxony-Anhalt. "Black-red is over." Citizens wanted a change in policy, said Weidel. She reiterated her party's goal of governing federally for the foreseeable future.
Weidel speaks of “total failure”
She accused the federal government of “total failure”. Weidel spoke of failed budget policy and an “energy policy ghost ride”.
With regard to migration policy, she held the government responsible for crime and internal security problems in the country. She made a connection between migrants and allegedly misdirected social benefits. "The person who drives to work every morning bleeds at the gas station because of the far too high taxes at the pump. On the other hand, those who immigrate into the social system and live at the expense of the public are pampered."
In foreign policy, she accused the federal government of "war propaganda" and of intensifying the confrontation with Russia. The AfD leader again criticized the energy policy. The energy transition is crushing the economy. "The energy transition is money lost and burned." In addition, given the low filling levels of the gas storage facilities, the government is heading for an “existential gas supply crisis” in the winter. Germany needs cheap gas from Russia again and also its own nuclear power plants. She also demanded that subsidies for climate protection and development aid be eliminated.
Merz on the AfD: “They are a destructive force”
The mood in the Bundestag was heated and the noise level was high when Merz took the lectern after Weidel. After the CDU's catastrophic performance in Saxony-Anhalt, Merz is also under pressure within the party, so his appearance was eagerly awaited. He appeared combative and, for his part, settled accounts with the AfD. “You are a destructive force,” he accused the party.
The AfD did not achieve an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt, said the CDU chairman at the general debate in budget week. “Nowhere in Germany will you get a majority with this policy,” emphasized Merz in his speech, which was repeatedly accompanied by heckling from the AfD.
Merz: AfD relies on “ethnic cleansing”
The Chancellor harshly criticized the AfD and its political style. "What characterizes you is a contempt for our democratic institutions and a constant personal degradation of our state's representatives," he said. In his speech, Merz tried to highlight the fundamental differences between the AfD and other parties. Addressing the AfD faction, he spoke of a “deep rift between you and us.” The Chancellor called “the deep rift in foreign policy, the deep rift in European policy and also the deep rift in social policy and peace policy.”
Merz accused the AfD of harming Germany's interests through its proximity to Russia. “The only thing that really threatens Russia and Putin is the charisma of democracy,” said Merz. “And yet you obviously remain on Russia’s side,” said Merz in the direction of the AfD faction. "They are part of this problem that we have in Germany - and we will defend ourselves against it with everything we have at our disposal."
With regard to the term "remigration", he also accused the AfD of wanting to carry out "ethnic cleansing" based on origin and skin color. The Chancellor referred to millions of employees with a migrant background, for example in skilled trades or nursing professions.
Klöckner threatens troublemakers with expulsion
During his speech, Merz was repeatedly interrupted by heckling from the AfD. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner criticized the behavior of the party's MPs. “We are not on the football field here,” said the CDU politician - and threatened AfD MPs to throw them out of the plenary hall.
Merz thanked Klöckner for the intervention, but added: “It will still fade away.” The AfD faction will continue to try to disrupt. “Listening is not your strength,” he said to the AfD. "You want to destabilize our country. Your complete disregard for the German Bundestag is also reflected in this behavior here."
With regard to the planned reforms, the Chancellor admitted failures in communicating the projects - and at the same time called for a continuation of the reform course. It is the government's job to explain the "meaning of reforms" - and this is "perhaps the answer we have so far owed the most," said Merz. "I don't exclude myself at all."
The message is: "Reforms serve the cohesion, progress and further development of our country in freedom and peace."
