AfD Leader Weidel Declares Merz Has Failed
AfD leader Alice Weidel criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz's policy statement as a failed politician's swan song while opposition parties traded accusations over migration and economic policies.
According to Junge Freiheit, Weidel delivered her blistering assessment during a parliamentary session on Thursday, attacking the governing black-red coalition over what she characterized as failed economic and migration policies.
The opposition leader questioned whether Germany was genuinely experiencing a migration turnaround, lamenting continued mass immigration into the country’s social welfare systems. She further noted that the German economy had shed half a million jobs in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Weidel warned that the exodus of industry abroad resembles a mass flight, with young and highly qualified professionals leaving alongside the companies. She maintained that the CDU has subordinated itself completely to the SPD, making any genuine policy shift impossible under such leadership.
SPD Fires Back at AfD
Matthias Miersch, parliamentary group leader of the SPD, struck back at Weidel, telling her directly that the AfD are not patriots but rather the exact opposite. He accused her of pitting population groups against one another and called her rhetoric unbearable to hear from the parliamentary podium.
Greens Accuse Merz of Betrayal
Britta Haßelmann, head of the Green Party parliamentary faction, also targeted Merz with harsh words, as Junge Freiheit reports. She claimed that ordinary citizens feel deceived by the government’s approach, particularly regarding potential austerity measures.
Haßelmann accused the CDU leader of reducing the concept of reform to a mere synonym for cuts. She demanded that Merz pull himself together, deliver results, and treat citizens with respect.
Left Party Warns of Social Devastation
Sören Pellmann, leader of the Left Party faction, went further, describing the coalition’s approach as a policy of social devastation. He criticized rising military spending while health insurance, nursing care, and pension benefits become increasingly unaffordable for many citizens.
Merz Defends Reform Agenda
Earlier in the session, Chancellor Friedrich Merz had defended his planned reforms, presenting Germans with a stark choice between avoiding changes that may initially mean restrictions or leveraging the country’s strengths and potential to turn things around for everyone.
Merz stated that his government was firmly committed to the second path and called on every citizen to consider what they could contribute to making the overall effort succeed.
Coalition to Discuss Cuts and Reforms
Before the summer recess, a coalition committee comprising CDU, CSU, and SPD representatives is scheduled to address possible reform measures. These reportedly include potential tax relief for low and middle incomes, cuts to health and pension insurance, and bureaucracy reduction.
With information from Junge Freiheit
