CDU district administrator calls for Merz's ouster after Saxony-Anhalt collapse

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces open calls for his removal from within his own CDU party following the party's historic collapse in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. District administrator Tino Schomann declared Merz unfit for the position, citing a lack of empathy, credibility, and reliability. Schomann, whose own state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern holds elections on September 20, criticized Merz for missing campaign support and stoking public fears while breaking promises. He called for increased pressure from the party base, saying the federal leadership had failed to wake up after the electoral debacle. The CDU secured only 17.2 percent of votes on Sunday, its worst result in Saxony-Anhalt since reunification, while the AfD won with 43.8 percent. However, state minister Philipp Amthor defended Merz, arguing the result reflects broader societal shifts rather than individual failures.