Merz Says CDU 'Shaken to Its Core' After AfD's Historic Win
The German Chancellor's reaction reflects the mainstream dilemma over how to respond to the far-right surge.
German Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz said the party was "shaken to its core" following the far-right Alternative for Germany's (AfD) decisive win in the Saxony-Anhalt regional election.
Merz's statement confirms that the result, which saw AfD secure around 44.5 percent and represents the party's strongest regional showing since World War II, has deeply rattled Germany's mainstream political scene.
A Dilemma for Traditional Parties
Merz's reaction reflects the broader dilemma facing Germany's mainstream parties — whether to maintain the so-called "firewall" against forming coalitions with AfD, risking political paralysis in the state, or reconsider some positions to win back voters drawn to far-right rhetoric.
The situation in Saxony-Anhalt is likely to continue fueling intense debate in German political discourse, with potential consequences for broader European political dynamics in the months ahead.
MKNews Hub · World · September 9, 2026