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🇩🇪 Germany /Elections & Politics

Saxony-Anhalt Election: Friedrich Merz Warns Against AfD at Leuna Campaign Event

From Die Zeit · () German

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

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged voters in Saxony-Anhalt not to support the AfD in Sunday’s state election, warning of economic and social consequences.
  • Merz criticized the AfD’s opposition to the EU, Schengen and the single market, saying its position could threaten projects such as UPM’s €1.3 billion wood biorefinery in Leuna.
  • The AfD leads polls by a wide margin and could win an absolute majority, while Merz’s visit included meetings with company representatives rather than direct voter contact.

Friedrich Merz used a visit to UPM’s biorefinery in Leuna to deliver a direct message before Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt election: voters who want Germany and the state to remain open, liberal and attractive to Europe should not vote for the AfD.

Anyone who wants Germany to remain an open and liberal country, and who wants Saxony-Anhalt to remain an attractive location, including an attractive European location, must not vote for the AfD on Sunday.

· Friedrich MerzThe chancellor urged Saxony-Anhalt voters to reject the AfD in the state election.

The chancellor’s warning focused on the party’s hostility toward the European Union. “Anyone who, like the AfD, wants to leave the single market, leave Schengen and leave the European Union is fundamentally calling projects like those being built here into question,” Merz said during the visit with Saxony-Anhalt Minister-President Sven Schulze, both members of the CDU.

UPM says it has invested €1.3 billion at the Leuna site, which is described as Germany’s first industrial wood biorefinery. Merz linked such projects to the future of the European single market and said he would work to develop and deepen it. He pointed to US tariff threats and trade imbalances with China, arguing that Europe could respond only through closer cooperation. “That is our great opportunity,” he said. “If we want to stand up to this, including technologically, there is only one way.”

Anyone who, like the AfD, wants to leave the single market, leave Schengen and leave the European Union is fundamentally calling projects like those being built here into question.

· Friedrich MerzMerz criticized the AfD’s position on the EU during his visit to UPM’s Leuna biorefinery.

The Leuna appearance was Merz’s second campaign visit to Saxony-Anhalt after a trip to Quedlinburg on Monday. As in Quedlinburg, he did not plan direct contact with voters. The event remained closed to the public, with meetings involving the company’s management and works council, followed by a joint statement to cameras. Merz was also due to meet 30 mayors from Saxony-Anhalt later in the evening.

That is our great opportunity.

· Friedrich MerzMerz referred to strengthening the EU single market in response to US tariff threats and trade imbalances with China.

The AfD remains skeptical of the European Union and leads state-election polling by a wide margin, giving it a chance of securing an absolute majority. Merz has warned that such an outcome could carry economic and social consequences for the state.

If we want to stand up to this, including technologically, there is only one way.

· Friedrich MerzMerz argued that Europe needs a stronger single market to compete internationally.
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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