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last mo.

Merz’s ‘Cityscape’ Remark Triggers Statehouse Showdowns as AfD Calls It ‘Pure Racism’

Fresh state debates scrutinized migration policy, public safety, political rhetoric, culminating in the rejection of an FDP package.

AfD-Politiker Peer Lilienthal spricht im Landtag Niedersachsen – und kritisiert die Stadtbild-Aussage von Merz.
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Sticker mit der Aufschrift „Wir sind das Stadtbild“ – einige der Protestler am Rande der Preisverleihung in Berlin
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Overview

  • Lower Saxony AfD lawmaker Peer Lilienthal denounced the chancellor’s remark as “clear racism” and “pure racism” during a debate on an AfD proposal for a baby payment restricted to German children.
  • Coverage highlighted contradictions in the AfD’s stance, recalling its failed 2024 court bid to force disclosure of first names of 19 German suspects from the 2022/23 New Year’s incidents to infer migration background.
  • Schleswig-Holstein’s parliament debated an FDP motion on migration, integration, rule of law, and public space; after a contentious exchange, the package was rejected.
  • CDU member Lukas Kilian criticized the chancellor’s imprecision yet cited polling to argue many agree with raising the issue, while FDP leader Christopher Vogt warned against leaving problem diagnosis to populists.
  • Green, SPD, and SSW figures condemned the chancellor’s phrasing as harmful or undifferentiated, with Social Minister Aminata Touré saying the debate hurt many and SPD’s Serpil Midyatli urging a unifying, fact-based approach.