I won’t give up”: Merz warns of changes in Germany after CDU defeat: The coming weeks and months will be decisive

Friedrich Merz, chairman of the CDU and federal chancellor of Germany, has warned of consequences after his party’s poor result and the deep victory of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt.

After an urgent meeting with CDU leaders in Berlin, Merz described the loss as shocking and hinted that the party cannot continue as if nothing happened.

“We are all deeply shocked. We did not expect this in this form. The result must of course be accepted, as these are the rules of democracy. But yesterday did not only change Saxony-Anhalt, but the whole of Germany. This is the heaviest electoral defeat that the CDU has suffered in years, even decades. This will naturally have to have consequences,” Merz said.

The chancellor stressed that the CDU must draw conclusions from the vote, which has sparked strong reactions in the country and within the party itself. He promised to respond seriously to the situation, acknowledging that the result also affects him personally.

“Our institutions are strong and stable. The German constitution protects and guarantees this order, and the federal government I lead will ensure that the constitution is enforced. This message also applies to our friends in Europe and around the world. We know that Germany, because of its history, bears a special responsibility. Germany will always maintain its strong ties with Europe,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Despite the CDU’s poor performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, Merz is not considering taking personal measures against himself.

“Giving up is not an option for me. We all have to become better together. And I am looking for ways to achieve that. It is about ensuring that future generations can also live in freedom, peace, and security. And I will not shirk this responsibility. In the coming weeks and months, I will try to do politics differently, to do it better. My fundamental convictions do not change,” Merz declared.

Merz had earlier promised to halve the AfD’s result, but the election in Saxony-Anhalt brought a halving of support for his CDU. This has increased pressure on the chancellor.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party, won the election for the regional parliament of Saxony-Anhalt by a wide margin, although it did not secure an absolute majority. The CDU came in second, recording a significant decline.