What mattered, he said, was that there could be only one response to the current circumstances: "Europe must, now above all, stand up confidently and in unison for the values that made us what we are: respect for human dignity, peace, freedom, democracy."

On Thursday, Steinmeier will visit the Pantheon monument in Paris with President Emmanuel Macron, to honor the Jewish historian and resistance fighter Marc Bloch, who was murdered by Nazi Germany. 

Steinmeier also intimated that a new deal on Franco-German youth cooperation might be signed amid the visit, speaking of a "promise for a new generation of German and French youth, who want to learn to understand, value and love each other." 

The visit coincides with considerable  political unrest among French young people in the form of ongoing school funding protests.

Steinmeier also said prior to leaving Berlin that his state visit would be "something of a farewell tour with a truly committed European and a good friend." 

Both he and French President Macron took office in 2017, and both will be leaving their posts early in 2027. 

Steinmeier's post, however, is far more ceremonial and removed from daily politics than that of the French president. 

Saxony-Anhalt AfD and BSW lawmakers call for end to Ukraine aid, sanctions on Russia

Immediately following its initial parliamentary session on Tuesday, Saxony-Anhalt state legislators from the far-right AfD and far-left BSW called for the federal government in Berlin to drop sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, as well as demanding an end to all arms deliveries and financial aid for Ukraine as Kyiv defends itself from a nearly five-year Russian invasion.

Both parties are known for their Russia "friendly" stances and their ties to the Kremlin.

They have also latched onto Moscow's claim that Berlin and other EU and NATO governments are the true "war mongers" in Ukraine, baselessly claiming that Russia is a peace-loving nation forced to defend itself against hostile neighbors.

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht echoed AfD co-chair Alice Weidel in labeling the initiative "a signal for peace."

"Economic sanctions against Russia must end immediately," a statement said.

Germany's federal leadership, under two chancellors, has shown steadfast — if at times cautious — support for Ukraine and demanded Russia end its killing of civilians before entering into further dialogue.

Beyond dropping sanctions, the AfD and BSW insist Germany must normalize relations with Moscow, and stop "financing the war," arguing instead that money spent helping Ukraine defend its democracy would be better spent in Germany.

State governments in Germany have no say in federal foreign and energy policy, but the parties say they launched their effort in an attempt to force change in Berlin.

Merz rails against extremism, AfD sympathizers in own ranks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday addressed the threat of political extremism to the existing social order, accusing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and far-left BSW parties of wanting to wipe out "the DNA of our democracy."

"Extremism," said Merz, "is forcing its way into our state legislatures with a vengeance."

Merz, speaking in Berlin, called this week’s election of an AfD politician as speaker of Saxony-Anhalt's state parliament — the first time a far-right politician has been tapped to lead a statehouse since 1945 — a "historic break."

Moreover, Merz slammed politicians — potentially from his own conservative CDU party — for casting ballots in favor of Tobias Rausch in the Saxony-Anhalt vote, saying he was "deeply concerned and somewhat appalled" when the AfD's candidate was elected to the speaker position.

Rausch received 48 votes but the AfD and BSW only have 44 between them. It is unclear from whom Rausch picked up four extra votes — he was elected in a secret ballot.

Observers assume these came from within the CDU, but Merz said "false flag" attacks also occur in politics, implying the Social Democrats, the Left party and the Greens, all of which are also represented in the state's parliament, could be attempting to weaken or sow division in the CDU. 

"Anyone ‌who ​casts their vote for the AfD is ​playing the extremists' game and undermining ⁠credibility," ​said Merz. "In any ‌case, this is incompatible ​with ⁠the values of my party, ⁠the ​CDU."

IN DEPTH: German spy scandal threatens national security

The arrest of August Hanning, former president of Germany's foreign intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), and his former chief-of-staff, Manfred D., is threatening to cause a major rupture in Germany's intelligence relationships, according to analysts, as the full scale of the scandal begins to be understood abroad.