Saxony-Anhalt election fallout: Which reforms are now at risk

The state election in Saxony-Anhalt has unsettled Germany's ruling coalition, with the SPD and CDU drawing conflicting conclusions about the federal government's reform agenda. The SPD attributes the AfD's victory to public anxiety over unpopular policies, while the CDU insists on accelerating reforms. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has agreed to discuss the reform course, but CDU parliamentary leader Thorsten Frei rejects any slowdown. SPD leader Bärbel Bas warns against ignoring voter discontent, signaling potential adjustments to plans affecting pensions, sick leave, and fuel prices, though she rules out plunging the government into chaos. Key contested issues include scrapping the pension after 45 contribution years, requiring doctor's notes from the first sick day, and cutting benefits for family caregivers. The CDU also seeks larger income tax relief than proposed by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who demands offsetting proposals.