Merz warns against the AfD state government in Saxony-Anhalt and promotes the EU internal market

During his second election campaign visit to Saxony-Anhalt, Chancellor Friedrich Merz once again warned of the economic and social consequences of a possible AfD state government. "Anyone who wants Germany to remain an open and liberal country, and anyone who wants Saxony-Anhalt to remain an interesting location that is also interesting in Europe, should not vote for the AfD on Sunday," he said in Leuna during a joint visit to the UPM biorefinery with Prime Minister Sven Schulze (both CDU). Merz had previously traveled to Quedlinburg on Monday.

In Leuna, the Chancellor particularly criticized the AfD's stance towards the European Union. "Anyone like the AfD who wants to get out of the internal market, wants to get out of Schengen, wants out of the European Union is fundamentally questioning the kind of projects that are being created behind us here," he said. According to its own information, UPM has invested 1.3 billion euros in Germany's first industrial wood biorefinery at the site.

Merz promotes the expansion of the EU internal market

Merz announced that he wanted to work for the development and deepening of the EU internal market. “This is our big opportunity,” he said, referring to US tariff threats and imbalances in trade with China. “If we want to stand up to it, including technologically, then this is the only way,” he continued.

As before in Quedlinburg, no direct contact with voters was planned in Leuna. Merz only met with the management and the works council. The event was not public; only a joint statement in front of cameras was scheduled afterwards. In the evening, Merz also wanted to meet with 30 mayors in Saxony-Anhalt.