Scholz says far-right talk of 'remigration' recalls dark history

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday offered his support to demonstrators who have taken to the streets across the country to denounce the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and other right-wing groups.

Scholz said revelations that AfD officials met with far-right extremists to discuss "remigration," a euphemism for forcing immigrations out of the country, should be alarming for people in Germany.

"When conferences are held in country manors in this country to discuss how a part of the population can be pushed out of this country - 'remigration' as a keyword - it is reminiscent of the darkest times in German history," Scholz told the German parliament on Wednesday.

Many people in Germany with foreign roots are now afraid that they will have to leave, Scholz said.

"And that's why I think we all need to make a very clear commitment at this point: We stand before these citizens, they don't have to be afraid," said Scholz.

Martin Sellner, a well-known Austrian white supremacist, was among those that addressed the gathering in November that included AfD officials.

According to the investigative news outlet Correctiv, Sellner named three target groups for "remigration": Asylum seekers, foreigners with temporary residency rights and "non-assimilated citizens."

Scholz said that he was very happy that so many citizens across all party lines took to the streets together to protest against this.

Addressing opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, Scholz said the political parties should stand together against threats from the radical fringes.

"We must stand together as democrats," he demanded. "We in Germany have a task before our history. As democrats, we want to show that we will stop this trend, and we will do so together."

Merz also welcomed the mass demonstrations and, turning toward the AfD delegation, denounced their far-right politics during the debate on Wednesday.

"Xenophobia, anti-Semitism and nationalism go hand in hand with you, as do close ties to Russia and a deep-seated anti-American complex," Merz told AfD lawmakers.

"Enough is enough. You are not the 'Alternative for Germany' - you would be the final downfall for Germany, and not just economically, but above all morally."

Merz vowed that his party would oppose the AfD with all its strength. But he also argued that Scholz's government holds partial blame for rising support of the far-right among German voters.

"The voters for the AfD are not all right-wing radicals, but they are all pretty frustrated," Merz said, adding that the solution would be for Scholz's governing coalition to finally solve the country's problems.