Merz Refuses AfD Cooperation Despite 44% Victory

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) after the party won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt with nearly 44% of the vote.

“This has shaken our party to its core,” Merz admitted, referring to the result for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He promised greater efforts to reach voters, but rejected calls for his resignation and said the government would continue its reform agenda.

The AfD won 39 of 83 seats, falling short of an absolute majority. Its co-chair, Tino Chrupalla, called on CDU lawmakers to enable the formation of a “center-right conservative majority” and break with the party’s long-standing refusal to cooperate with the AfD.

The only German party to have signaled a willingness to cooperate with the AfD is the left-wing populist BSW. Both parties oppose mass migration and support for Ukraine, and advocate restoring relations with Moscow.

Merz stressed that the AfD’s success was no reason to change course. He said he would not budge “even a millimeter” from his conviction that Germany must defend freedom against Russia.

(Reuters, max)