Merz says AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt shocks CDU to its core

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the election result in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt has "shocked" his CDU party to its core, as the far-right AfD became the largest party there on Sunday. He stated that things cannot continue as before, for him or for the federal government. Merz acknowledged that his party, which currently leads the state government, suffered a "dramatic" loss and failed to build an emotional connection with voters, a problem the CDU cannot ignore. He noted that Germany has a strong constitution and all necessary tools to defend it against a far-right state government. The result has raised concerns in German politics about the consequences of a potential AfD-led state government. Merz described the outcome as an "earthquake" in the country's party system, reflecting broader anxieties about the far-right's advance in the east.