Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Merz Calls CDU Defeat in Saxony-Anhalt Most Severe Yet
Germany’s Christian Democratic Union performed very poorly in an election in Saxony-Anhalt.
It received 17% of the vote.
The Alternative for Germany received nearly 44%.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the result shocked the CDU.
He called it the party’s worst defeat in many years or decades.
Merz said the result could have important consequences.
He also said voters were unhappy with his approval ratings and the slow pace of reforms.
The CDU’s defeated candidate said the AfD should try to form a government.
The Christian Democratic Union won 17% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, compared with nearly 44% for the Alternative for Germany.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the result the CDU’s most severe election defeat in years or decades.
Merz said nearly 60% of voters backed parties that fundamentally question Germany’s democratic institutions.
CDU candidate Sven Schulze said the AfD had earned the right to try forming a governing majority.
Merz acknowledged that his low approval ratings and criticism of slow reforms contributed to the CDU’s poor performance.
- Who
- The Christian Democratic Union, the Alternative for Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and CDU candidate Sven Schulze.
- What
- The CDU suffered a major election defeat, winning 17% compared with nearly 44% for the AfD.
- When
- The result was discussed on Monday, September 7.
- Where
- Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
- Why
- Merz attributed the CDU’s poor performance partly to his weak approval ratings and criticism that reforms had been introduced too slowly.
CDU View
AfD Position
Interpretation of the result
CDU View
Friedrich Merz described the outcome as a severe defeat and warned that it could have significant consequences for Germany’s governing coalition and democratic institutions.
AfD Position
The AfD’s nearly 44% result gave it a strong electoral mandate, according to Sven Schulze, although it lacked enough seats to govern alone.
Who should govern
CDU View
The CDU acknowledged that it would serve in opposition after its poor showing.
AfD Position
Schulze said the mandate to govern now lay with the AfD, which should try to form a governing majority.
- CDU vote share
- 17%
- AfD vote share
- Nearly 44%
- Merz’s assessment
- The CDU’s most severe election defeat in years or decades
- Governing status
- The AfD fell short of the seats needed to govern alone
- CDU candidate
- Sven Schulze
- Merz’s cited factors
- Weak approval ratings and slow rollout of reforms
- Democratic concern
- Merz said nearly 60% voted for parties questioning Germany’s democratic institutions