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Profile picture of Rheinische Post
Rheinische Post
Credibility B
 Sep 07
Saxony-Anhalt: Merz must now save the CDU/CSU - | or clear the way: After the AfD's triumph in Saxony-Anhalt, the CDU/CSU is on its knees ...
rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/sachsen-anhalt-merz-muss-die-union-jetzt-retten-oder-den-weg-freimachen_aid-154373839
Saxony-Anhalt: Merz must now save the CDU/CSU - | or clear the way
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Profile picture of Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
B
 Sep 07
CDU debacle in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz under pressure: A historically unprecedented defeat, a record result for the AfD: The state elections are shaking the ...
nzz.ch/deutschland/politik/nach-dem-desaster-von-sachsen-anhalt-herrscht-in-der-cdu-ratlosigkeit-ld.10022661
CDU debacle in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz under pressure
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Profile picture of Augsburger Allgemeine
Augsburger Allgemeine
Credibility B
 Oct 15
Before the Young Union's Germany Day: Will the party's youth wing once again expose Chancellor Merz?
augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/vor-dem-deutschlandtag-der-jungen-union-stellt-der-parteinachwuchs-kanzler-merz-wieder-bloss-115502211
Before the Young Union's Germany Day: Will the party's youth wing ...
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Profile picture of Focus
Focus
D+
 Oct 12
Söder calls on CDU dissenters to leave: With an eye on the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt, CSU leader Markus Söder has called on dissenters within the CDU/CSU ...
focus.de/politik/soeder-fordert-cdu-abweichler-zum-austritt-auf_d020bace-b079-42df-a3bb-9b30eeb70353.html
Söder calls on CDU dissenters to leave
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Profile picture of Focus
Focus
D+
 Oct 11
“Leaves me speechless”: After Merz’s theory about a “false flag operation” in Saxony-Anhalt, things are simmering in the CDU
focus.de/politik/deutschland/nach-merz-these-zu-false-flag-operation-in-sachsen-anhalt-brodelt-es-in-der-cdu-macht-mich-fassungslos_a5e3900b-c1fc-4fcd-95b1-77308b534c0e.html
“Leaves me speechless”: After Merz’s theory about a “false flag operation” ...
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Profile picture of Reuters
Reuters
A
 Oct 10
Germany's firewall against the far-right AfD feels the heat: Chancellor Friedrich Merz's warning this week that extremism was entering Germany's parliamentary ...
reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-firewall-against-far-right-afd-feels-heat-2026-10-10/
Germany's firewall against the far-right AfD feels the heat
Key FactsAfD Puts Germany’s Political Firewall Under Pressure
Oct 10, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: reuters.com
  • Merz’s coalition with the Social Democrats is increasingly strained by policy disputes and declining poll numbers.

  • Because the ballot was secret, suspicion focused on Saxony-Anhalt’s 15 CDU lawmakers told to abstain.

  • AfD candidate Tobias Rausch won 48 votes, four more than the AfD and BSW jointly hold in seats.

  • Government formation remains unclear because the AfD lacks three seats for a majority and BSW coalition talks stalled.
    • Today is about the survival of democracy. We must stand up for what remains important.
    — President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; remarks marking the anniversary of German reunification warning about the political climate and the risk to democracy.
2 similar articles
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Profile picture of stern.de
stern.de
B−
 Oct 09
Peter Altmaier campaigns for Alexander Dobrindt as Chancellor on ZDF: Refreshingly clear words were spoken on Thursday on Markus Lanz's show ...
trib.al/7fu5KHG
Peter Altmaier campaigns for Alexander Dobrindt as Chancellor on ZDF
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Profile picture of tz
tz Oct 09
CDU votes for AfD candidate Rausch? SPD demands investigation and a confession from Merz
tz.de/politik/afd-abstimmung-spd-fordert-cdu-aufabreitung-und-offene-bekenntnisse-vor-siegmund-wahl-zr-94532073.html
CDU votes for AfD candidate Rausch? SPD demands investigation and a ...
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Profile picture of op-online.de
op-online.de
C
 Oct 09
Aigner on Merz: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him" - | CSU politician sends a clear warning to the Union
op-online.de/deutschland/ilse-aigner-freundschaft-zu-merz-und-ihr-rat-an-die-union-zr-94532173.html
Aigner on Merz:
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Profile picture of tagesschau.de
tagesschau.de
A
 Oct 07
Merz on Saxony-Anhalt: | "This is incompatible with the CDU's values": Was the AfD state parliament president in Saxony-Anhalt also elected with CDU votes? ...
tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/cdu-reaktion-wahl-landtag-sachsen-anhalt-102.html
Merz on Saxony-Anhalt: |
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Profile picture of N-tv
N-tv
C+
 Oct 07
"Historic turning point": Merz comments on AfD state parliament president in Saxony-Anhalt
n-tv.de/politik/Merz-aeussert-sich-zu-AfD-Landtagspraesidenten-in-Sachsen-Anhalt-id31392663.html
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Profile picture of Focus
Focus
D+
 Oct 07
Merz: False flag operation possible in election of AfD politician: With Tobias Rausch (President) and Hans-Thomas Tillschneider (Vice President) ...
focus.de/politik/merz-false-flag-operation-bei-wahl-von-afd-politiker-moeglich_68f50699-3c5a-4a5f-8fd9-00c6954d514e.html
Merz: False flag operation possible in election of AfD politician
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Profile picture of Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
B
 Oct 07
OpinionThe CDU must reinvent itself: The German Chancellor's party is in free fall. The credit the Christian Democrats had with the public has been exhausted.
nzz.ch/der-andere-blick/die-cdu-muss-sich-neu-erfinden-ob-das-gelingt-ist-fraglich-ld.10027006
The CDU must reinvent itself
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Profile picture of blaetter.de
blaetter.de Oct 01
AfD on the verge of hegemony: The disruption of the CDU: "The AfD's tactical arsenal has been enriched by a subtle new variant," rejoiced AfD strategist Götz ...
blaetter.de/ausgabe/2026/oktober/afd-vor-der-hegemonie-die-disruption-der-cdu
AfD on the verge of hegemony: The disruption of the CDU
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Profile picture of N-tv
N-tv
C+
 Sep 07
Merz is "deeply shocked": Schulze sees CDU in opposition in Saxony-Anhalt and mandate to govern with AfD
n-tv.de/politik/Schulze-sieht-in-Sachsen-Anhalt-CDU-in-Opposition-und-Regierungsauftrag-bei-AfD-id31278568.html
Merz is
Key FactsSchulze says CDU is in opposition, governing mandate with AfD
Sep 7, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
  • Schulze announced consequences as lead candidate and planned presenting a proposal on the next steps to the state executive that evening.

  • The AfD fell short of an absolute majority; every party except BSW rules out cooperating with it.

  • AfD lead candidate Siegmund nevertheless relied on support from defectors from other parties.

  • Merz called the result the CDU’s worst election defeat in years and said the party could not resume business as usual.
    • We, the CDU, have no government mandate left; we are in opposition. The government mandate now lies with the AfD.
    — Sven Schulze, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt (CDU), after CDU top committee meetings in Berlin
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Profile picture of op-online.de
op-online.de
C
 Sep 08
CDU crashes in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz recalls CDU greats: The Chancellor expresses shock at the AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt. And makes an unusual promise to ...
op-online.de/politik/cdu-verliert-in-sachsen-anhalt-merz-erinnert-an-historische-parteigroessen-zr-94479910.html
CDU crashes in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz recalls CDU greats
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Profile picture of Allgemeine Zeitung
Allgemeine Zeitung
C+
 Sep 08
After the AfD's triumph in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz promises to do better, but can he?
allgemeine-zeitung.de/politik/politik-deutschland/nach-sachsen-anhalt-merz-gelobt-besserung-aber-kann-er-6220868
After the AfD's triumph in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz promises to do better ...
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