Add the Gazzetta del Sud as a source
Adenauer’s CDU “shaken to its foundations”. The Chancellor “shocked”. The day after the Saxony-Anhalt vote, which saw Ulrich Siegmund’s far-right breakthrough with 43.8%, the rhetoric in Berlin is charged with a dramatic tension atypical for a Northern European country. But Friedrich Merz is not willing to pay the bill for the historic turning point that took place in Magdeburg, where his party collapsed to 17.2%. “Giving up is not an option,” he replied to those who asked him at a press conference when he will have seen enough to be able to think about resigning.
Alice Weidel’s attack
From the opposite camp, AfD leader Alice Weidel attacked him head-on, demanding that he step aside: «The CDU has suffered a debacle, a result that is reflected at the federal level, people have lost confidence. No chancellor before had been as unpopular as Friedrich Merz, who became a great burden for development in Germany.”
Then he repeated his analysis of the situation: «Germany is de facto bankrupt. They don’t tell you the data but it failed. Like France after all.” «When we are in government – he announced, returning to the party’s mantra – we will close the borders, because the policy of open borders can no longer be financed».
Who will govern the Land
The data emerging from the polls lead to the conclusion that the small Eastern Land conquered by Siegmund should be governed by Alternative, which would set up an executive for the first time. And for the Bild the chancellor would begin to adapt to the idea that it is better to let them govern – the outstretched hand of Sahra Wagenknecht of the BSW, who entered the parliament, would allow this – “letting them make their mistakes”. They will ruin themselves, is the reasoning.
Also because the radical program with which they triumphed is largely unrealizable, and will fill the region with debt, according to many politicians in the area. It was therefore Sven Schulze, the defeated outgoing Christian Democrat governor, who stated: «We do not have the mandate to govern. It’s up to Afd.”
The message to European partners
However, Merz was also keen to reassure those observing the country from the outside. «The government will ensure that the Constitution is imposed. I also say this for our European and international partners. We know that Germany has a particular responsibility for our history. We will maintain political order, and we will remain anchored to Europe.”
The analysis done behind closed doors in the CDU, leaked by Bildmade it clear that the «party system is undergoing an upheaval» and that «this shakes our party to its foundations», according to the chancellor. All the large popular parties risk dwarfism: after the SPD, now also the Conservative Union.
A chancellor without strategy
But what are Friedrich Merz’s answers in this situation? In reality it is difficult to find them. Merz appears without strategies, and in fact the speech with which he explained that he did not want to give up did not convince anyone. Personal consensus adrift? “I also look for the reasons within myself,” he replied.
The turning point of the Land that turned its back on its party? We need to change the narrative, speak the language of emotions better, is the proposal of Bundeskanzlerwhich at this point intends to “take the fears and concerns of fellow citizens very seriously” and reach out to the Germans with “dedication and empathy”. Two new words in his political lexicon.
A recipe that has left the capital’s main analysts dissatisfied, starting with the very powerful one Bildwho continues to attack him. And even the social democratic allies, who want to retract the reforms and, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitungthey believe less and less that Merz is the right leader. These, however, remain “necessary” and “are the chance for the future of our children and our grandchildren” for the chancellor who wants to be more empathetic from today.