Merz is shocked by the AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt, but remains combative

Berlin. Chancellor Friedrich Merz was “shocked” by the AfD’s landslide election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, but wants to continue fighting for the success of his black-red federal government. “Giving up is not an option for me,” said the CDU chairman after his party’s committee meetings in Berlin. He was elected for four years and will live up to his responsibilities. Merz made it clear that he wanted to stick to the federal government's reform course, but announced talks with the SPD about it. Above all, she wants to take another look at pensions.

The Chancellor appeared humble and unusually openly acknowledged his own mistakes and shortcomings. He said he had the problem that many people couldn't or didn't want to follow his thoughts and judgments. “That’s my debt and I accept it.”

The CDU suffered an unprecedented drop from 37.1 to 17.2 percent in the election in Saxony-Anhalt - a loss of almost 20 percentage points. “This is the worst election defeat that the CDU has suffered in years, in decades,” said Merz.

The Chancellor is blamed for the defeat within the party - although not openly. The Chancellor's authority has already been clearly weakened since the much-criticized personnel restructuring before the summer break. There is speculation as to whether the two state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in two weeks could bring him down.

What makes things even more difficult for Merz is that the SPD now doubts that the reform program approved before the summer is really as good as previously portrayed. The SPD leaders also say that reforms are important. “But we must not make social reforms against the people,” emphasized Bärbel Bas at the party headquarters.

“When people hear that they should work more and longer, be sick less and that things are generally getting tougher, then that creates uncertainty,” said Bas - this is obviously directed against Merz. Now we have to talk to the Chancellor about “how we can take away people’s fears about the reforms”.

SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf reported a specific need for discussion on pensions, care, health and fuel prices - a fairly large chunk of the overall package. But the SPD cannot act too boldly now, in order not to indirectly harm itself. “To plunge the federal government into chaos now cannot be our path,” said Bas - and added directly: “But we still have to change something.” Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil emphasized that when it comes to reforms, one should not try to beat one's head against the wall.

Merz said he heard the comments from the SPD. Of course, we have to talk about the question of how to deal with the biographies of people who have been insured for a long time, who now have legitimate concerns about the question of whether they should be allowed to retire after 45 years or not. “That may not have been expressed clearly enough.” At the same time, the Chancellor emphasized the fundamental correctness of the necessary reforms.

Merz also said that the issue of the budget and tax reform would also be on the agenda again. There is a great desire in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for the relief for citizens to be a little more extensive. "I don't close myself to this wish at all. At the same time, we just have to ensure that the public finances in Germany remain reasonably solid."

Merz followed the election evening on Sunday for six hours at the party headquarters in Berlin together with other top party people. In the morning, he first called the CDU prime ministers together to discuss with them alone - an unusual step that shows how precarious the situation is. The party executive committee meeting began 50 minutes late.

At the press conference after the committee meetings, he emphasized that he was sure of the party's support. He is taking on his tasks as Chancellor, “and I also know that the CDU, the Prime Ministers, the Presidium and the Federal Executive Board of the CDU are behind me.”

Until the next state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 20th, Merz should be safe from open attacks from his own party. What happens next is another matter - and depends on the election results.

In Berlin, the CDU is threatened with losing the office of governing mayor - possibly to the left. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - if things go really badly - it could fall below the ten percent mark to fourth place. The debate about changing the chancellor could then break out again - with an open outcome.

Merz will continue to make himself rare in the election campaign. The CDU's top candidate in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Daniel Peters, said that no further appearance by the head of government and party chairman was planned. On his only visit so far to Kühlungsborn, he was greeted by individual voters with catcalls, insults and demands for his resignation.

If Merz survives the fall as chancellor, he should be through the worst of it. In the spring there will be elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. If Wüst wins the election there, Merz will soon face the next debate - the one about a second term in office.

The 70-year-old Chancellor has not yet made a clear statement on this. In response to a question about this at the press conference, he said: "I'm thinking about a lot of things at the moment, but not about the 2029 federal election."