German leaders criticize AfD's migration policy in heated debate

Berlin – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly criticized AfD co‑leader Alice Weidel on Thursday, accusing her party’s proposed migration reforms of amounting to “ethnic cleansing” of skilled workers. In a press conference, Scholz said the AfD’s plan to tighten immigration rules for professionals would undermine Germany’s demographic needs and jeopardise sectors facing labour shortages, such as engineering, healthcare and information technology. Weidel responded that the AfD seeks to prioritize German citizens in the labour market and to prevent what she described as “uncontrolled influxes” that strain public services.

The exchange highlights growing tensions between the governing coalition and the far‑right Alternative for Germany, which has been campaigning on stricter asylum and work‑permit policies ahead of upcoming state elections. Analysts note that Germany’s aging population and declining birth rates have made skilled‑worker immigration a central element of economic strategy, prompting the government to pursue reforms aimed at easing entry for qualified applicants. Scholz’s remarks underscore the administration’s intent to safeguard those policies against what it views as politically motivated restrictions.