Merz accused Russia of supporting the German far-right party AfD
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Russia supports the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD). According to him, Moscow is trying to influence German society, spread disinformation, and weaken support for Ukraine.
Friedrich Merz said that Russia is trying to destabilize Germany and influence its domestic policy. The German chancellor made these remarks during a speech on Thursday, October 1. Bloomberg quoted his statement, and Reuters also reported that Merz spoke about Russian hybrid attacks and attempts to divide German society.
The chancellor specifically mentioned the AfD. He stated that the party enjoys Russia’s support and linked its activities to Moscow’s broader attempts to influence Germany. “We will not allow ourselves to be divided—neither by hybrid attacks, nor by the hatred stoked on social media by bots controlled from Moscow, nor by the slogans of ‘Alternative for Germany’ and their Russian patrons,” Merz said.
According to the chancellor, the Russian government is trying to weaken Germany from within. He believes that Moscow is looking for opportunities to divide society and spread information that could influence Germans’ attitudes toward Russia’s war against Ukraine. “The Russian government wants to throw us off balance. It wants us to weaken our support for Ukraine. It wants us to stop investing in our deterrence capabilities,” Merz stated.
The chancellor also said that Russia is using various methods of influence. Among them, he cited hybrid attacks, social media campaigns, and attempts to spread hostile narratives. Merz called on German society not to allow such actions to undermine the country’s unity. At the same time, Merz links the issue of Russian influence to support for Ukraine. In his view, Moscow is interested in Germany and other European countries reducing their aid to Kyiv. “It is looking for any opportunity to divide our society and weaken our country,” the German chancellor emphasized.
The AfD has recently strengthened its position in Germany. In the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt in September, the party received about 44% of the vote and became the largest political force in the state parliament, although it did not secure an absolute majority. The party also opposes some forms of military aid to Ukraine and calls for the restoration of relations with Moscow. Reuters notes that it is precisely because of these positions that the AfD has found itself at the center of discussions about Russia’s possible influence on German politics.
At the same time, Merz emphasized that Germany will continue to support Ukraine and strengthen its own defense capabilities. According to him, Berlin must be prepared to counter not only military threats but also cyberattacks, disinformation, and other forms of hybrid influence. Thus, Merz’s statement addresses not only the AfD but also the broader debate on Russian influence in Germany. The chancellor links this influence to attempts to shift German public opinion regarding the war in Ukraine and to weaken the country’s political unity. Bloomberg reports on the German chancellor’s statement.
In Germany, there is discussion about restricting access to classified information for representatives of the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) if it joins the state government of Saxony-Anhalt. Following its victory in the state elections, the AfD is attempting to form a coalition that could grant it access to data from agencies that monitor internal and external threats.
