"Seriously in Danger"

After the CDU’s Election Debacle: Chancellor Merz Speaks Out

For German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), the domestic political situation is becoming increasingly precarious.(Bild: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)

What’s next for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following his party’s election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt (see video above)? On Monday afternoon, the CDU leader commented publicly on the matter for the first time. At a press conference, the 70-year-old appeared shaken by the result but ruled out any personal consequences. Instead, he issued a clear message to theelection winner, the AfD...

“This is the CDU’s worst defeat in years—in decades,” emphasized a contrite yet composed Merz. He said his party’s poor showing was painful and could not go without consequences. The AfD’s sweeping victory in Saxony-Anhalt must have consequences.

You can read the “Krone” live updates from election dayhere!

“This shakes our party to its very foundations”
According to his own statement, he had previously spoken to the CDU Federal Executive Board of “a tectonic upheaval in our party system.” He continued: “This shakes our party to its very foundations. We cannot simply move on to the agenda—not even I, nor the federal government.”

For German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), the domestic political situation is becoming increasingly threatening.(Bild: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)

SPD and CDU “seriously in danger”
When asked whether the election results signaled “the end of the major mainstream parties,” Merz replied: “I cannot give a definitive answer to that question. I can only see that the two major parties we once had are in serious danger. This has been true of the SPD for some time now, but it is true of us as well,” said the chancellor.

The federal government must improve. In particular, we must do a better job of explaining our policies to the public.

Deutschlands Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU)

Message to the AfD: “The minority is not the enemy of the majority”
At the same time, the 70-year-old sent a clear message to the AfD: “The minority is not theenemyof the majority.” The federal government will ensure that the Basic Law continues to apply—even if an AfD member becomes Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt. “If boundaries are crossed there, it will be corrected,” said the Chancellor. This is also a message “to our friends in Europe.” 

Merz Wants to Stick to the Government’s Reform Course
The CDU leader reminded SPD leader Lars Klingbeil of his speech on reform this spring at the Bertelsmann Foundation. Germany needs reforms, he said, and he is firmly convinced of that. The federal government must now implement them. “My determination to carry out the reform agenda remains unshaken,” Merz emphasized.

The federal government will ensure that the Basic Law continues to apply. If boundaries are crossed in Saxony-Anhalt, this will be corrected.

Friedrich Merz (CDU)

At the same time, he added: “Many people are facing difficult circumstances.” He said he could understand “people’s fears.” In his view, the CDU must improve. “The public wants different answers.” After the state elections in two weeks (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin), they will analyze what could be done differently. For example, they need to explain their reform agenda more clearly, because reforms are not an end in themselves.

Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz appeared contrite at the press conference following the election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt.(Bild: EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE)

“The threat from Russia is real”
In post-election polls in Saxony-Anhalt, the federal government’s aid to Ukraine was repeatedly cited as a reason for voters’ decision to support the AfD. For Merz, however, this is no reason at all to change his policy in this area. “The threat Russia poses to our security is not abstract. It is real,” the chancellor emphasized. If aid to Ukraine were to be halted, things would not get better, “but worse.” 

Giving up is not an option for me!

Friedrich Merz (CDU)

Chancellor Rules Out Resignation 
He won’t hear of resigning. “I am aware of my personal responsibility in this country,” and he understands the shared situation, which “obliges us to continue working together.” He does not want to run away from this responsibility. There are major challenges to overcome; the country must be renewed. This is difficult, “especially in light of the failures of the past decades.” He would have liked to see faster results, but the reforms will take time.

Schulze Announces “Personnel Consequences”
Meanwhile, Saxony-Anhalt’s CDU Minister-President Sven Schulze announced “personnelconsequences”following the election debacle. He said he would present a plan to the CDU state executive committee of Saxony-Anhalt as early as Monday evening outlining how to move forward. Schulze stated that the mandate to govern now lies with the AfD. He concluded by saying, “We in the CDU no longer have a mandate to govern; we are now in the opposition.”