Merz accuses AfD of ‘ethnic cleansing’ policy and cancels call with Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) of pursuing an "ethnic cleansing" policy through its "remigration" drive. This policy aims to encourage people of non-German descent to leave the country. Merz's statement comes after the AfD's significant win in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, which has raised concerns about the party's growing influence in Germany. The AfD's rise could have implications for the German economy and markets, particularly if the party's policies lead to increased uncertainty and instability.

Why it matters

This story is about a political statement made by the German chancellor and does not have any direct relation to financial markets. The statement is related to a domestic political issue in Germany and does not seem to have any significant impact on the

Market impact

Markets & countries in focus

Related coverage

• Home Office ‘error’ leaves Italian man’s wife with no right to stay in UK The Guardian · 2026-08-09
• Gurugram: Man found hanging after wife seeks divorce; 7-year-old son records video Moneycontrol · 2026-08-02

Explore the intelligence

MeridStreet does not reproduce source articles. The summary and analysis above are generated by MeridStreet from public headlines and its own market model; the original reporting belongs to The Guardian. For information only — not financial advice.