Merz vows reforms after AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed shock after the far-right AfD party won a decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, calling it a historic setback for his CDU party. He vowed to continue his reform agenda despite the defeat. The CDU secured only 17.2% of the vote, a 20-point drop from the previous election, while the AfD more than doubled its support to 43.8%. Merz acknowledged his low personal approval ratings contributed to the loss and said he would discuss pension and tax reform specifics with coalition partner SPD. Merz ruled out resigning, stating "giving up is not an option for me," and promised a party analysis after upcoming regional elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. He has faced pressure from within his coalition over a stagnant economy and social policy divisions.