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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

After Election Debacle, Merz Says Giving Up Is Not an Option

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was shocked by the AfD’s sweeping victory in Saxony-Anhalt but would continue leading his coalition government.
  • The CDU’s vote share fell from 37.1% to 17.2%, its worst defeat in decades, while the SPD is seeking changes to reforms involving pensions, health care, nursing care and fuel prices.
  • Merz acknowledged personal responsibility and said he would discuss the reform agenda with the SPD rather than abandon it.

Friedrich Merz described himself as “shocked” after the AfD won by a wide margin in Saxony-Anhalt, but the German chancellor made clear he does not intend to retreat. “Giving up is not an option for me,” he said after meetings of his Christian Democratic Union in Berlin.

Giving up is not an option for me.

· Friedrich MerzThe chancellor said he would continue leading the coalition after the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt.

Merz said he had been elected for four years and would fulfill his responsibility. He also defended the federal government’s reform course, while signaling that he was ready to discuss changes with coalition partner the Social Democratic Party. The SPD has placed pensions at the center of its concerns.

The election produced a historic setback for the CDU. Its support plunged from 37.1% to 17.2%, a loss of nearly 20 percentage points. Merz called it the party’s worst election defeat in years, even decades. The result is also being blamed on the chancellor within the party, although not openly. His authority had already been weakened by criticism of a personnel reshuffle before the summer break, and speculation has emerged about whether upcoming state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could threaten his position.

That is my responsibility, and I accept it.

· Friedrich MerzMerz acknowledged that many people did not follow or accept his reasoning.

Merz adopted an unusually self-critical tone. He acknowledged that many people could not or would not follow his reasoning and judgments. “That is my responsibility, and I accept it,” he said.

But we must not carry out social reforms against the people.

· Bärbel BasThe SPD leader called for changes to the coalition’s reform agenda.

The SPD is now questioning whether the reform program approved before the summer is as strong as previously presented. Party leaders say reforms remain necessary, but Bärbel Bas warned that social reforms must not be imposed against the public. If people hear that they must work more and longer, take fewer sick days and face generally tougher conditions, she said, “that creates uncertainty.” SPD Secretary-General Tim Klüssendorf called for talks on pensions, nursing care, health and fuel prices. Bas said the coalition could not be thrown into chaos, but added that changes were still necessary. Merz said he was listening and would discuss pensions, the budget and taxes with the SPD.

If people hear that they must work more and longer, take fewer sick days and that things will generally become tougher, that creates uncertainty.

· Bärbel BasBas criticized how the government’s reform plans could affect public confidence.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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