Frankfurt (Germany), Sept. 7 (LaPresse) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is said to have expressed strong concern over the AfD’s success in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, speaking of a possible “far-right extremist government” and a “far-right extremist minister-president” in the state. Bild reported this, citing what emerged from a meeting of the CDU federal executive board. “We have a strong Constitution, we have all the instruments to defend it against a far-right extremist regional government, but we are witnessing a tectonic earthquake in our party system,” Merz is said to have said. “This is shaking our party to its foundations. We cannot return to the agenda, neither can I nor the federal government,” the chancellor is said to have added. Merz is also said to have acknowledged that the CDU bears some responsibility for the election result. “We have failed to find an emotional connection with people,” he reportedly admitted, stressing the lack of “emotional support from the population”. “We cannot ignore this,” he added. The chancellor is said to have described the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt as “dramatic” and the result as a “profound watershed for the party”. Among the causes for concern, he also reportedly cited the congratulations from Moscow and the United States to the AfD. Merz then reportedly appealed for party unity, urging the leadership to “speak openly about the problems” while maintaining internal cohesion. Everyone, he warned, must be aware that public statements against the party ultimately harm the CDU. According to Merz, the AfD’s goal would be the “complete destruction of the CDU”. “There can be no cooperation with this party,” he reiterated, stressing that the CDU remains firmly anchored in the principles of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.
Germany, Bild: “Merz fears extremist government, ‘CDU shaken to its foundations’”
Frankfurt (Germany), Sept. 7 (LaPresse) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is said to have expressed strong concern over the AfD’s success in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, speaking of a possible “far-right extremist government” and a “far-right extremist minister-president” in the state. Bild reported this, citing what emerged from a meeting of the CDU federal executive board. “We have a strong Constitution, we have all the instruments to defend it against a far-right extremist regional government, but we are witnessing a tectonic earthquake in our party system,” Merz is said to have said. “This is shaking our party to its foundations. We cannot return to the agenda, neither can I nor the federal government,” the chancellor is said to have added. Merz is also said to have acknowledged that the CDU bears some responsibility for the election result. “We have failed to find an emotional connection with people,” he reportedly admitted, stressing the lack of “emotional support from the population”. “We cannot ignore this,” he added. The chancellor is said to have described the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt as “dramatic” and the result as a “profound watershed for the party”. Among the causes for concern, he also reportedly cited the congratulations from Moscow and the United States to the AfD. Merz then reportedly appealed for party unity, urging the leadership to “speak openly about the problems” while maintaining internal cohesion. Everyone, he warned, must be aware that public statements against the party ultimately harm the CDU. According to Merz, the AfD’s goal would be the “complete destruction of the CDU”. “There can be no cooperation with this party,” he reiterated, stressing that the CDU remains firmly anchored in the principles of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.