After the AfD election victory in Saxony-Anhalt: Chancellor Merz announces consequences

CDU leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced consequences after the AfD election victory in Saxony-Anhalt and his party's defeat. “We are all deeply shocked,” said Merz after meetings of the CDU’s top committees in Berlin. "We didn't expect it in this form." Of course you have to accept that, these are the rules of democracy. "But yesterday something changed not only in Saxony-Anhalt, but throughout Germany."

It was “the worst election defeat that the CDU has suffered in years, in decades,” said Merz. “The whole thing will of course have consequences.” It is clear that the CDU cannot go back to the agenda. The election result caused great shocks in the country and in the CDU. He will try to take the seriousness of the situation into account.

The election result also affected him personally, said Merz. It also has an impact on the international situation and is receiving international attention.

"Our institutions are defensive and stable"

In view of a possible AfD-led government in Magdeburg, Merz emphasized that he wanted to "assure everyone in our country: our institutions are defensive and stable." The Basic Law protects and guarantees this order, and “the federal government led by me will ensure that the Basic Law is enforced.”

This message also goes "to our friends in Europe and around the world. We know that Germany has a special responsibility because of its history." Germany will always maintain its firm anchoring in Europe.

"Giving up is not an option for me"

Merz does not consider personal consequences. "Giving up is not an option for me." He knows "that we all have to get better together. And I'm looking for ways to achieve that." It is about ensuring that future generations can also live in freedom, peace and security. He wants to take responsibility for that. "And I'm not running away from that responsibility."

Merz reiterates the need for reforms

At the same time, the Chancellor reiterated the need for fundamental reforms in Germany. "It's about nothing more and nothing less than the future of our country and the opportunities of our children and grandchildren." “We cannot gamble this away,” said Merz. "That's why my determination to continue the reform course remains unbroken."

However, the reforms need to be better explained to people. He knows that this is a standard sentence that is often used in politics. But it's no longer enough. “We must try, myself included, to reach people more effectively in all their emotionality,” emphasized the Chancellor. "We know that many people are afraid for their own future, for their economic foundation, for their social security."

He will talk to his coalition partner SPD in the coming days. The reform course is fundamentally correct. However, Merz also made it clear that he was ready to talk about individual aspects of the pension reform and also about the volume of the tax reform.

Schulze: CDU no longer has a government mandate

Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Sven Schulze also announced consequences. “I ran there as the top candidate and will of course draw the appropriate conclusions from that,” said the CDU politician. He announced that he would submit a proposal for the further procedure to the party's state executive board in the evening.

The CDU top candidate spoke of a serious defeat. "We as the CDU no longer have a government mandate, we are the opposition. The government mandate now lies with the AfD."

The AfD won the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt by a large margin, but missed out on an absolute majority. The CDU came in second place with heavy losses.