The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has filed a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he accused the anti-immigrant party of pursuing a policy of "ethnic cleansing," during a speech in parliament this week.
The AfD parliamentary group said in a press release on Friday that the remarks directed at the AfD were "criminally relevant" and that Merz should therefore not be given the usual legal protections.
In the debate on Wednesday, Merz launched a counter-attack after sharp criticism of his policies from AfD co-leader Alice Weidel.
He said: "Millions of people with a migrant background also work in skilled trades. And if what you are promoting here were to become reality, namely 'remigration,' which is nothing other than ethnic cleansing based on skin colour and origin..."
His sentence was interrupted by outraged interjections from the AfD. Merz continued: "Ladies and gentlemen, the word 'remigration' is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin colour."
The AfD parliamentary group's managing director and legal counsel, Stephan Brandner, described the statement as "criminally relevant" and argued it was not covered by indemnity because it was a defamatory insult.
Under Article 46 of Germany's constitution, a lawmaker may not be prosecuted in court at any time for a statement made in parliament.
However, defamatory insults are an exception to this rule. Authorities may investigate a lawmaker, but the Bundestag must vote to lift the person's immunity, for example if charges are brought.
