Germany’s far-right opposition AfD party said late Thursday (September 11, 2026) it would ask for criminal defamation charges against Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he accused the party of promoting “ethnic cleansing”.

“We have come to a decision to file a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz,” AfD MP Stephan Brandner said in a video posted to X, calling Mr. Merz’s remarks in parliament “reprehensible”.

Mr. Merz on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) had accused the AfD in a heated parliamentary exchange of promoting ethnic cleansing to howls of protest from the opposition party’s ranks.

“The word ‘remigration’ is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing,” Mr. Merz said of the AfD’s flagship slogan.

“Remigration is nothing other than ethnic cleansing by skin colour and origin.”

The AfD contends that “remigration” refers to deporting foreign criminals and those who have come to Germany illegally.

But some on the far right have also used the term to mean the deportation of migrants and even German citizens of foreign origin.

Brander, the AfD lawmaker, called Mr. Merz’s comments “nonsense” and said it was “unacceptable for the head of the executive of our country to come up with such lies and slander”.

Germany, like many countries, offers parliamentarians immunity for comments made in the chamber.

However, the law makes an exception for “defamatory insults”.

Outside of parliament, Germany’s laws around free speech have been the source of considerable controversy in recent years, with critics — including some within the AfD — contending that strict rules stifle expression.

There have been several high-profile cases in recent years of people being criminally investigated for insulting, mocking or harshly criticising political figures.

One man, for instance, was fined by a court earlier this year for referring to Merz in an online comment as a “Lackaffe” — roughly meaning a snobbish dandy — while others have been investigated for calling him “Pinocchio” and “Lying Fritz”.

Germany is an important pillar of India’s engagement with Europe and a valued partner for promoting global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (September 10, 2026) after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz dialled him and they reviewed the progress of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, the two leaders noted the sustained momentum in high-level exchanges and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation across key domains, including trade and investment, advanced technologies, clean energy, defence, education and talent mobility.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Friedrich Merz. As India and Germany celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, Prime Minister and Chancellor Merz reviewed the progress of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office said.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and agreed to continue working closely to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Earlier, PM Modi in a post on ‘X’ said India and Germany will continue to deepen the forward-looking strategic partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

“Had a warm and productive conversation with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. As India and Germany celebrate 75 years of our diplomatic relations, we reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening our Strategic Partnership across trade & investment, defence, clean energy, advanced technologies, talent mobility and other key areas,” PM Modi said in a post on ‘X’.

The Prime Minister said Germany is an important pillar of India’s engagement with Europe and a valued partner for promoting global peace, stability and prosperity. “Together, we will continue to deepen our forward-looking Strategic Partnership for the benefit of the people of our countries,” he said.

Germany is an important pillar of India’s engagement with Europe and a valued partner for promoting global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (September 10, 2026) after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz dialled him and they reviewed the progress of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Marking 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, the two leaders noted the sustained momentum in high-level exchanges and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation across key domains, including trade and investment, advanced technologies, clean energy, defence, education and talent mobility.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Friedrich Merz. As India and Germany celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year, Prime Minister and Chancellor Merz reviewed the progress of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office said.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and agreed to continue working closely to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Earlier, PM Modi in a post on ‘X’ said India and Germany will continue to deepen the forward-looking strategic partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

“Had a warm and productive conversation with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. As India and Germany celebrate 75 years of our diplomatic relations, we reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening our Strategic Partnership across trade & investment, defence, clean energy, advanced technologies, talent mobility and other key areas,” PM Modi said in a post on ‘X’.

The Prime Minister said Germany is an important pillar of India’s engagement with Europe and a valued partner for promoting global peace, stability and prosperity. “Together, we will continue to deepen our forward-looking Strategic Partnership for the benefit of the people of our countries,” he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ​said on Wednesday (April 29, 2026) his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump ‌remained good despite a row between the two ​men over the Iran war, but he ⁠reiterated his worries over the economic impact of the conflict.

The spat reflects diverging views between the Trump administration and its European NATO ‌allies on Iran and other issues, including the Ukraine conflict.

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland are to visit Moldova on August 27 in a show of support for the EU-candidate country, which accuses Russia of seeking to destabilise it, the Elysee said on Friday (August 22, 2025).

At the invitation of pro-European President Maia Sandu, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will travel to capital of Chisinau on the country’s 34th anniversary of independence to “reaffirm their full support for Moldova’s security, sovereignty, and European path,” it added.

Ms. Sandu, a vocal critic of Russia, in particular since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly accused Moscow of political interference. The former Soviet republic lies between Ukraine and EU and NATO member Romania.

In July, she accused Russia of plotting to interfere in September’s national elections through disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks, and paid “violent” protests.

Mr. Macron, during a March meeting with Ms. Sandu, condemned what he called Russia’s “increasingly uninhibited” attempts to destabilise Moldova and its democratic institutions.

According to a poll conducted in mid-July, Ms. Sandu’s centre-right Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) is leading with 39% support, followed by the pro-Russian opposition Socialist party at 14.9%.