Key facts
- The AfD aims to win the Saxony-Anhalt premiership in December.
- CDU lawmakers in Saxony-Anhalt may abstain from voting to avoid supporting the AfD.
- The AfD's strategy includes seeking defections from conservative lawmakers.
- Merz has vowed that the CDU will not elect extremists to public office.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a significant challenge as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party aims to secure its largest victory to date by installing a state premier in Saxony-Anhalt in December. This move could represent the first far-right state premier in Germany since World War II. The AfD's strategy involves seeking defections from within the ranks of Merz's own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, a tactic that has already caused internal divisions and outrage among national conservative leaders. Accusations of CDU lawmakers in Saxony-Anhalt voting for the AfD's candidate for state speaker in a secret ballot have intensified concerns. In response, Saxony-Anhalt CDU leader Sven Schulze announced a plan for his party's lawmakers to leave the chamber during initial voting rounds to prevent any suspicion of supporting the AfD. However, the party's approach in a potential third round remains unclear. AfD leaders have expressed satisfaction with the CDU's disarray, viewing it as a capitulation. The situation complicates Merz's efforts to regain control after recent election losses and focus on his core priorities of supporting Ukraine and reviving the economy. The potential for an AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt is seen as a politically explosive outcome that could trigger a major crisis for Merz's chancellorship.