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Politics

Merkel Chided by German Court Over Criticism of Far-Right Party

  • AfD’s right to equal participation was violated, judges rule
  • Former chancellor said cooperation with party ‘unforgivable’
Angela Merkel, center, during her visit to South Africa in February 2020.

Angela Merkel, center, during her visit to South Africa in February 2020.

Photographer: Phil Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images

Angela Merkel suffered a setback in Germany’s top court when judges ruled that the former chancellor went too far with public comments in 2020 that were critical of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

During a trip to South Africa in February of that year, Merkel said a decision by lawmakers from her Christian Democratic Union party to line up with the AfD in a vote in the Thuringia regional parliament was “unforgivable” and represented “a bad day for democracy.”