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Merz vows to stay after AfD’s 44% win

9/8/2026

9 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Merz Stays

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to stay after the AfD captured 44% in Saxony-Anhalt.
The AfD fell three seats short of a legislative majority in Saxony-Anhalt.
Exit polls indicated only 9% of Saxony-Anhalt voters approved of Merz’s performance.
CDU premier Sven Schulze said his party’s 17% result gave it no mandate to govern.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said the party now aims for 40% in 2029, polling at 28%.

Summary

Merz Pushes Reform

Merz’s 2025 reform agenda depends on large infrastructure and defence spending funded by increased borrowing.
Household confidence in eastern Germany remains low, showing little improvement since the reforms began.
Merz pledged unwavering support for Ukraine, refusing to deviate from Berlin’s policy despite AfD’s pro-Russia stance.
He warned that Germany’s constitution provides tools to counter a potential right-wing extremist state government.

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Merz Stays

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to stay after the AfD captured 44% in Saxony-Anhalt.
The AfD fell three seats short of a legislative majority in Saxony-Anhalt.
Exit polls indicated only 9% of Saxony-Anhalt voters approved of Merz’s performance.
CDU premier Sven Schulze said his party’s 17% result gave it no mandate to govern.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said the party now aims for 40% in 2029, polling at 28%.

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