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Story summary
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz secured backing from eight CDU state premiers as AfD surged.
- AfD won 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt while CDU fell to 17.2%.
- AfD missed a majority by three seats and will seek a minority government.
- Merz cancelled his UN General Assembly speech, saying his presence was needed in Berlin.
- He will hold a CDU crisis meeting Sunday evening in Berlin to assess results.