Merz labels AfD remigration plan 'ethnic cleansing' in German election clash

German CDU leader Friedrich Merz publicly accused the far-right AfD of advocating 'ethnic cleansing' through its 'remigration' policy, escalating rhetoric ahead of elections. The remark marks a sharp departure from Merz's earlier stance on migration and signals a hardening of mainstream conservative opposition to the AfD. The impact is primarily domestic political, with potential implications for coalition dynamics and migration policy.