BERLIN, Germany | September 7, 2026 —
The Saxony-Anhalt election has delivered a severe setback to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the far-right Alternative for Germany winning 43.8% of the vote and leaving his Christian Democratic Union a distant second. Merz acknowledged the scale of the defeat on Monday but rejected suggestions that he should abandon his leadership.
The CDU secured 17.2% in Sunday’s state election, according to preliminary results. Although the AfD emerged as the largest party, it fell short of an outright parliamentary majority, leaving the formation of the next state government unresolved.
The outcome puts Merz under renewed pressure to explain why his government has struggled to regain public confidence. It also presents state lawmakers with an immediate challenge: determining who can secure enough support to govern.
Merz acknowledges one of CDU’s worst defeats in decades
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Merz described the result as among the CDU’s most serious electoral defeats in years, even decades. He said the outcome had deeply shaken the party and demanded a response.
The chancellor faced direct questions about his own responsibility. Reporters asked when he would conclude that his political approach had failed and that he could no longer continue in office.
However, Merz gave no indication that he intended to resign. Instead, he said he was considering how to restore shared political success and rebuild confidence in the government.
“Giving up is not an option,” he said.
Merz also acknowledged the need for reflection. While he does not routinely express his emotions in public, he said the current situation required the government to reassess its approach.
Chancellor defends reforms as public trust weakens
Despite the defeat, Merz defended the broad direction of his government’s policies. He said the administration must demonstrate that the course it chose last year can deliver results.
His response focused on Germany’s economic competitiveness, excessive bureaucracy and obstacles to growth. He argued that the government needs to do more to remove those barriers while explaining its decisions more clearly.
For Merz, regaining trust will require both policy delivery and better communication. He said the public needs a clearer account of the government’s choices and the reasons behind them.
Meanwhile, questions about disagreements between the CDU and its federal coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, exposed another challenge. Merz acknowledged that the two parties need further discussions as they assess the election’s implications.
He also stressed that democratic governments depend on compromise. In his view, the coalition must better explain why that process shapes its decisions.
Merz warns against treating the result as routine
Merz said nearly 60% of voters had supported parties that, in his assessment, fundamentally challenge Germany’s democratic institutions.
He argued that such a result could not simply pass as another ordinary shift in electoral fortunes. Instead, he called for a fresh assessment of the political situation and an effective response.
The chancellor attributed the AfD’s strength to both domestic factors and international developments. However, he did not present a detailed new political strategy during the remarks described.
Addressing international reactions, Merz referred to celebrations roughly 2,500 kilometers east of Germany. His comments appeared to point toward Russia, although he did not directly name a country or organization in that passage.
He also suggested that outside forces had sought to encourage such an outcome. Those remarks represented his political assessment, rather than evidence establishing that foreign intervention determined the result.
Sven Schulze concedes defeat, but government formation remains open
In Saxony-Anhalt, CDU state premier Sven Schulze acknowledged that his party no longer had a mandate to lead the state government.
He said the AfD now held the electoral mandate to govern. Nevertheless, he emphasized that elected representatives would determine what happens next.
Schulze also said he did not expect CDU lawmakers to defect to the AfD and provide it with a majority. He recalled that the AfD had previously said it did not want discussions with other parties.
The distinction between winning the election and forming a government now matters. The AfD’s first-place finish gives it the strongest electoral position, but does not automatically place it in office.
For Merz, the immediate national task is to respond to a major defeat while holding his coalition together. In Saxony-Anhalt, the next step rests with the newly elected legislature and its ability to support a state government.
