Scholz and Merz are using the debate in the Bundestag to launch decisive attacks against the AfD. “Xenophobia, anti-Semitism and nationalism go hand in hand with you,” Merz accused the largely right-wing extremist party in his opening speech.
Merz ignored calls that CDU officials also attended the meeting. Instead, Merz indirectly accused the traffic light of having contributed significantly to the Afd's strengthening through bad politics. After all, the right- wing party rose from 10 to 20 percent in the polls within two years.