Under-pressure German leader says state election result a 'disaster'

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz called the recent Saxony‑Anhalt state election a “disaster” on Tuesday and said he will remain as head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group despite the setback. The vote, held on March 24, saw the centre‑right bloc lose more than a fifth of its share of the vote and drop from 45 seats to 34 in the 97‑member Landtag. Merz made the remarks in a press conference in Berlin, where he faced questions about his future and the party’s direction ahead of the 2025 federal election.

The result matters because Saxony‑Anhalt has long been a stronghold for the CDU, and the party had expected to retain a comfortable majority. Instead, the Greens surged to 18 percent, while the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) captured 22 percent, its best showing in any state election this year. The loss signals voter fatigue with the CDU after a decade in government at the federal level and raises doubts about the party’s ability to win back the chancellorship from the Social Democrats. Analysts say the outcome reflects broader discontent over economic stagnation and rising energy costs, issues that have dominated German politics this winter.

Merz said the party will regroup and focus on rebuilding trust with voters. He rejected calls for an early leadership contest, arguing that stability is needed as the CDU prepares its campaign for the 2025 national vote. The Greens’ leader in the state, Jan Stadler, welcomed the shift, calling it a “clear mandate for progressive policies.” The AfD’s regional chief, Petra Müller, hailed the result as proof that “the German people are looking for alternatives.” Coalition talks are now expected to begin within weeks, with the CDU likely to seek a partnership with the SPD and the Greens to form a governing majority. The next few months will test whether Merz can steer the party back to a winning position or whether internal pressure will force a change in leadership.