Former German chancellor’s comments encouraging migrants to unite against the Alternative for Germany party draw sharp response from political opponents.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has faced criticism after calling on migrants living in Germany to unite politically against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
During a recent interview with journalist Jagoda Marinić for Hesse Broadcasting, Merkel addressed Germany’s migrant population and encouraged cooperation with voters who oppose the AfD, a right-wing populist party that has gained support in recent years.
“I would like people with a migration background… or with a migration history… we join forces with those who do not make common cause with the AfD,” Merkel said during the discussion.
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She continued by urging broader political unity among voters opposed to the party.
“I wish everyone would stand together against this party. And we do not split ourselves as a political center, I say, onto those who have a migration history and those who have none. Because then our country would become weaker against the AfD.”
Merkel also emphasized that citizenship status should not divide the electorate.
“Whether a German citizen has been a German citizen for two years or for four days or the entire family for three generations, it doesn’t matter. We are the German people… We must also stick together when we have to take action against people who have completely different ideas about our future.”
The remarks prompted criticism from AfD leadership. Party co-leader Alice Weidel responded in a statement posted on social media, arguing that Merkel’s policies during her tenure as chancellor had already caused significant damage to Germany.
In a post, Weidel said: “Merkel has inflicted severe damage on Germany. In addition to the ruin of our energy infrastructure and the open borders for everyone from all over the world, she is now calling on naturalized ‘people with a migration background’ not to vote for the AfD.”
Recent surveys suggest AfD remains one of the strongest political forces in Germany. According to a recent poll, the party currently trails the conservative Union bloc — comprised of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) — by a narrow margin.
Merkel led the CDU for many years and served as Germany’s chancellor from 2005 until 2021. Her government’s decision during the 2015 migration crisis to admit large numbers of migrants into Germany remains one of the most debated policies of her tenure.
The former chancellor’s remarks also drew attention from political activist Naomi Seibt, who criticized the comments in a message shared online.
In a statement, Seibt wrote: “The snake says the quiet part out loud.”
“She knows that the AfD is the MOST POPULAR party in Germany. She calls on migrants in Germany to stand together with German leftists,” Seibt added.
Despite ongoing political criticism of several policies implemented during Merkel’s years in office, European institutions have continued to recognize her role in European governance.
Earlier this week, Merkel received a European distinction honoring her contributions to the European project. According to reporting by German media, she was presented with the European Order of Merit for what officials described as her “significant contributions to European integration and European values.”
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