AfD becomes strongest party in Sachsen-Anhalt as CDU slumps to historic low

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9 days · 12 summary articles
Germany’s center-right CDU suffered a historic defeat in Sachsen-Anhalt’s state election on Sunday, plummeting from 37.1% in 2021 to 17.2%, as the far-right AfD surged to 43.8% and became the strongest party, according to official results. CDU leader Friedrich Merz called it “the heaviest electoral defeat the CDU has suffered in decades” and acknowledged personal responsibility, stating, “I will try to do better,” while ruling out resignation .
In response, Sachsen-Anhalt’s CDU announced a complete overhaul of its state leadership, with a special party conference to elect a new board by November or December. Incumbent state premier Sven Schulze, who led the CDU’s campaign, said he would not seek re-election as party chair but would remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed. Schulze confirmed the CDU would move to opposition, stating, “We have no mandate to govern” .
Bundestag deputy Sepp Müller, a critic of the party’s campaign strategy, declared his candidacy for state CDU chair on Monday, saying, “I am running for state chairman.” Müller had drawn rebuke from Merz and parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei for remarks seen as undermining the CDU’s campaign days before the vote .
The AfD, though the largest party, fell short of an absolute majority, leaving government formation uncertain. Schulze emphasized the CDU’s role in opposition, while protests erupted in Berlin and other cities against the AfD’s rise, with organizers estimating 14,000 participants in the capital .
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