Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz expressed his shock following the victory of the far-right party Alternative for Germany in the Saxony-Anhalt elections. He noted that support for his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has halved compared to 2021, marking the worst defeat for the CDU in 'years or decades.'
This defeat is not the only one: the German electoral marathon continues, with elections for the state parliament in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern scheduled for September 20. According to recent polls, Alternative for Germany is leading there with around 37% support. If the election results confirm these predictions, Merz's position, already mired in political crisis, could be further weakened.
Experts analyzing the situation point out how the CDU found itself in such a difficult position and how close Merz is to resignation. The elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could be decisive for the future of the chancellor's political career.