Merz faces political crisis after AfD's Saxony-Anhalt victory

Friedrich Merz faces a severe political crisis after the AfD achieved a near-landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt, prompting questions about the future of his chancellorship. The result has sent shockwaves through his CDU party. Merz admitted the outcome was unexpected, with the AfD winning 44 percent of the vote, just short of an absolute majority. He described it as the CDU's heaviest electoral defeat in decades, acknowledging that many voters cast protest ballots against his government's policies. The chancellor's communication style has come under scrutiny, particularly after a recent clash with a pediatrician over health reforms. With the AfD openly aiming to destroy the CDU, Merz must now demonstrate both skill and empathy to prevent an abrupt end to his tenure.