Söder Calls AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt an ‘Epochal Break’

Markus Söder has described the AfD’s decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt as “an epochal break,” warning the CDU against trying to reinterpret the result or form a government with a narrow majority.

“

First of all, you really have to take a deep breath. This is a real turning point and, to some extent, an epochal break.

Speaking to Bayern 2, the CSU leader said the outcome represented a serious political rupture. “First of all, you really have to take a deep breath,” he said. “This is a real turning point and, to some extent, an epochal break.”

Söder argued that the mandate clearly lay with the AfD and said democracy required the result to be recognized. He cautioned the CDU against attempting “at any cost” to govern and install a minister-president with only a minimal majority. Such an approach, he said, would not be promising, and citizens would find it difficult to understand a reinterpretation of the vote.

“

I do not think that would be a promising approach.

He characterized the state election as a protest vote aimed less at Saxony-Anhalt than at Berlin. “The state election was a protest vote that had less to do with Saxony-Anhalt than with Berlin,” Söder said. The federal government, he added, needed to accelerate reforms, while ensuring they remained socially balanced.

“

The mandate clearly lies with the AfD.

Söder also called for a revival of the economy and industry, organized in a socially fair way. He made the comments shortly before a planned appearance at the Gillamoos political gathering in Abensberg, where Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, another CSU politician, was also due to speak.

“

The state election was a protest vote that had less to do with Saxony-Anhalt than with Berlin.