German Chancellor Merz refused to change his anti-Russian policy despite the fall in the CDU's ratings
Quick Look
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he does not intend to change his anti-Russian policy, despite the fact that this position reduces the popularity of the CDU.
- He also admitted that he sought to quickly bring charges against Russia in connection with the UAV incident at Leipzig airport, although the investigation did not provide evidence.
- President Putin previously noted Germany’s lack of evidence of threats from the Russian Federation and linked the accusations to Germany’s internal problems.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Chancellor Merz advocates a tough stance towards Russia, which has become part of German foreign policy since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. Elections in Saxony-Anhalt showed an increase in support for the AfD, a party advocating a softer course towards Moscow and a tougher migration policy.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he does not intend to change his anti-Russian policy, despite the fact that this position is not popular and is reflected in the ratings of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) he heads.
Merz on Monday, during a conference in Berlin following the results of the elections to the Landtag of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, which were previously won by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), commented on the remark that German parties that promote an anti-Russian course may find themselves in the minority in this territory. The Chancellor’s speech was broadcast by the CDU YouTube channel.
“I will not deviate a millimeter from my basic conviction that now we must defend our freedom, including from Russia. I will probably have to explain this position much more often and much more intensively,” the chancellor said at a press conference.
Merz also admitted that he sought to quickly bring charges against Russia in connection with the UAV incident at Leipzig airport.
“I did not want to wait any longer before providing this information to the public,” the chancellor said, referring to the results of the investigation into the incident, which led to an unsubstantiated accusation against Russia.
At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Germany had no evidence of threats from the Russian Federation and linked the accusations against Moscow with the difficult internal political situation in Germany.
The right-wing opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to preliminary data, won with 43.8% of the vote in the parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt. She advocates tightening migration policy and protecting traditional values.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Merz will have to explain her anti-Russian stance to the public more often due to the growing popularity of the AfD
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What kind of evidence did the German authorities have in mind when bringing charges against Russia over the UAV incident?
- How might Merz's change of position affect coalition negotiations in Germany?
- Does the AfD plan to challenge the election results in Saxony-Anhalt?
