Merz vows reforms after CDU's worst defeat in decades

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged his Christian Democratic Union party suffered its heaviest electoral defeat in decades after the far-right Alternative for Germany won a landslide victory, but he vowed to continue reforms, saying "surrender is not an option." Merz expressed shock over the results in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD won 43.8% of votes against the CDU's 17.2%, calling it a deep shock for the party and personally. He insisted Germany's institutions remain strong and stable, and that the government will enforce the constitution. The Bavarian CSU leader described the vote as a punitive judgment against Berlin, demanding significantly faster but socially balanced reforms, including reviving the economy and industry. Merz said he is not currently thinking about the 2029 federal election.