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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

After Saxony-Anhalt election, Merz warns AfD against unconstitutional rule

From Süddeutsche Zeitung · () German

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

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Friedrich Merz said his government would enforce Germany’s Basic Law if the AfD took power in Saxony-Anhalt and pursued unconstitutional policies.
  • The AfD won 39 seats and needs support from at least three lawmakers from other factions to secure an absolute majority.
  • AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund said he would seek talks with lawmakers and factions but would only stand for minister-president if a stable majority appeared possible.

Friedrich Merz has warned that Germany’s federal government would intervene to uphold the Basic Law if the AfD formed a state government in Saxony-Anhalt and pursued unconstitutional policies. Speaking after a meeting of the CDU leadership in Berlin, the chancellor said, “The federal government I lead will ensure that the Basic Law is enforced.”

The federal government I lead will ensure that the Basic Law is enforced.

· Friedrich MerzThe chancellor warned that the federal government would uphold constitutional rules if the AfD pursued unconstitutional policies.

Merz said political power should be granted rather than seized and stressed that “the minority is not the enemy of the majority.” He acknowledged that democratic majorities can change, but said the values of the Basic Law were not up for negotiation. To people worried about the election result, he said Germany’s institutions were resilient and stable.

The chancellor also said the government needed to explain its reform plans in a different way. The coalition wants to continue its course on pensions, health care and long-term care, but Merz said the election showed that reforms could no longer be justified only through mathematical and economic arguments. “We must try to reach people more strongly in all their emotionality,” he said, adding that many people feared for their economic foundations and social security.

Power is granted, not seized.

· Friedrich MerzMerz emphasized his view of democratic authority after the AfD’s strong election result.

The AfD holds 39 seats in the new state parliament and would need support from at least three lawmakers from other parliamentary groups for an absolute governing majority. Its leading candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, described the result as a clear mandate to govern. He said he would seek talks with individual lawmakers or factions, but would only run for minister-president if he believed he could establish a stable majority.

The minority is not the enemy of the majority.

· Friedrich MerzHe called for democratic institutions and majorities to be respected.

The next minister-president will be elected by the parliament in Magdeburg, though the date has not been set. The source also reports that the leading BSW candidates plan to abstain in a third round of voting.

We must try to reach people more strongly in all their emotionality.

· Friedrich MerzMerz said the government needed to communicate its reform plans more effectively after the election.
About this summary

Originally published by Süddeutsche Zeitung 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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