Key facts
- Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a new high in a recent weekend election.
- Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a significant defeat, with support falling by more than half.
- Merz acknowledged his personal unpopularity and the need to connect more deeply with voters' emotions.
- The AfD is actively trying to fracture the CDU by encouraging lawmakers to defect.
- Merz stated he would remain in office and continue with his economic reform agenda.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has achieved a significant electoral victory, reaching a new high in Saxony-Anhalt's recent election while support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) plummeted by more than half. This outcome marks one of the CDU's worst defeats in decades, intensifying pressure on Merz, whose approval ratings are dismal.
Merz acknowledged the severity of the situation, calling it a "major upheaval" and stating that consequences would follow. However, he indicated he would remain in office and continue with his economic reform agenda, despite speculation of a potential "chancellor swap." The AfD, meanwhile, is openly pursuing a strategy to fracture the CDU by encouraging lawmakers to defect, aiming to secure enough seats to govern alone and widen the political gap.
Merz admitted his personal performance and persona were factors in the election's outcome, recognizing a failure to connect with voters' emotions and anxieties about economic well-being and security. He pledged to become a more empathetic politician and to try doing things differently in the coming weeks and months. This sentiment was echoed by some CDU lawmakers who called for fundamental change and questioned the party's current approach.
The AfD is employing a multi-pronged attack, targeting Merz on issues like migration and energy policy, while also using tactical maneuvers to exploit the CDU's dilemma of avoiding cooperation with the far-right. This strategy aims to portray conservatives as ignoring the will of the people and ultimately bring about Merz's downfall.