Politics
CROSS-SPECTRUMBROAD COVERAGE
CDU faces calls for Chancellor Merz’s resignation after AfD surge in Saxony‑Anhalt
The AfD won 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony‑Anhalt state election while the CDU fell to 17.2%, roughly half its previous share. CDU MP Günter Krings warned against debating Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s future in the wake of the result. Businesswoman Claudia Obert announced she is leaving the CDU and called Merz a misfit for the chancellor’s role. CDU deputy Tino Schomann demanded that Merz step down, blaming the party’s defeat on Berlin’s handling of the campaign.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 24h later
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The growing dissent within the governing party could affect Germany’s leadership and policy direction.
How this story developed
- Sep 6 AfD poised for historic win as Saxony-Anhalt election draws massive voter turnout
- Sep 6 The CDU publicly acknowledges a severe loss in the Saxony‑Anhalt election.
- Sep 7 Final seat projections released showing AfD with 39 seats and CDU with 16 seats.
- Sep 7 Final results confirm the Landtag has 83 members, the CDU holds 15 seats and the BSW secured five seats while signalling willingness to cooperate on selected issues.
- Sep 8 Günter Krings, a member of the German Bundestag, described the recent Saxony-Anhalt vote as far worse than expected, with the AfD securing 43.8% of the ballots. He argued the CDU should not entertain discussions about replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz so soon after the far-right's victory. Krings urged the party to focus on rebuilding its credibility and blamed EU decisions for part of voter anger. The CDU’s share fell to 17.2%, roughly half of its previous support.
- Sep 9 Former US president Donald Trump praised the Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its impressive result in Saxony-Anhalt, blaming the country's immigration policies.
- Sep 9 Trump posted a congratulatory message to the AfD on Truth Social after the Saxony‑Anhalt results.
- Sep 9 Merz and AfD leader Alice Weidel clashed in a Bundestag budget debate following the Saxony‑Anhalt result.
- Sep 10 A new Insa poll shows the CDU sliding sharply in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the SPD narrows the gap with the AfD and smaller parties risk missing the threshold.
- Sep 10 Claudia Obert resigned from the CDU and Tino Schomann publicly demanded Merz’s resignation.
- Sep 11 Only the BSW agreed to talks as all other parties declined, and Chancellor Merz rebuked Donald Trump’s congratulatory post.
- Sep 11 A new poll confirms the AfD’s continued lead while the CDU’s support keeps slipping.
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