The CDU's "heaviest defeat": Merz holds his ground as the succession fight opens in Saxony-Anhalt

What the comparison reveals

What everyone says

Friedrich Merz described the result in Saxony-Anhalt as the 'heaviest defeat' suffered by the CDU in years, if not decades, while categorically ruling out any resignation.
The CDU collapsed in Saxony-Anhalt (around 17% of the vote) faced with an AfD that won very largely (around 44%), in a state that the party had been leading uninterrupted since 2002.
Friedrich Merz ruled out any cooperation between the CDU and the AfD, which he frames as seeking to destroy the conservative party.

Where it breaks apart

Framing of the AfD vote — Some media outlets view the AfD's breakthrough as proof that campaigns accusing the party of extremism backfired on those who led them, while other perspectives continue to present the party as a far-right movement that should be isolated by a cordon sanitaire.
Continental scope of the election — Several perspectives present the CDU's defeat as a disturbing signal for security, cohesion, and support for Ukraine in Europe, while the Italian government downplays the result as a strictly local and regional vote.
Solidity of Merz's position — The German and Brazilian press report that Merz has so far managed to secure his position at the head of the party and the coalition, while the Swiss press is already discussing the possible beginning of the end of his chancellorship and the US press is measuring his fragility in terms of the risk to the reform agenda.

On Monday, September 7, 2026, following the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt, German Chancellor and CDU President Friedrich Merz spoke to the press at the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus in Berlin, describing the outcome as the "heaviest defeat" suffered by the CDU in decades, with the party falling to 17.2% in the state according to the FAZ, compared to 43.8% for the AfD.

Merz has secured his position as head of the federal CDU, but the regional presidency of Saxony-Anhalt remains to be filled, with a renewal scheduled for the end of the year

Sven Schulze

The outgoing prime minister announced a complete renewal of the regional leadership in November or December, without seeking re-election.

The Müller formula

His line: whoever remains open on all sides at the same time doesn't have their ideas in order, he essentially says, a play on words.

The stab in the back

Merz had criticized Müller for criticizing Schulze three days before the vote; Müller disputes his assessment.

Key figures

17.2 %
The CDU's score in Saxony-Anhalt, down from 37.1% in 2021, according to the FAZ
1 source · FAZ
24 years
The duration for which the CDU has continuously led Saxony-Anhalt
1 source · FAZ
37 years
The age of Sepp Müller, candidate for the CDU presidency in Saxony-Anhalt
1 source · ZEIT Online