German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reacted to the election results in the state of Saxony-Anhalt during a press conference, where the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged victorious. According to the head of government, the outcome was an unexpected turn of events that affected not only the specific region but the entire political architecture of the country. "We are all deeply surprised. We did not expect such a turn of events. Since yesterday, something has changed not only in Saxony-Anhalt but throughout Germany," Merz stated, emphasizing that the election result would have far-reaching consequences both domestically and on the international stage.
Impact on the international situation and the position on Ukraine
Merz paid particular attention to the link between domestic political shifts and Germany's foreign policy course. The Chancellor directly stated that the AfD's victory "may please Russia" and declared that the Kremlin is deliberately trying to influence the results of elections in Germany. At the same time, he categorically rejected any possibility of adjusting Berlin's course toward Kyiv: "I will not budge by a millimeter from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom from Russia, especially now. And if we stop supporting Ukraine, the situation will not improve tomorrow. It will become even worse," Merz emphasized. In his words, the goal of the Russian leadership is to destabilize the Western system of values, and these values, in the Chancellor's view, cannot be a subject of bargaining or negotiation.
"The most serious CDU defeat in decades"
Commenting on the result of his own party — the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) — Merz acknowledged that the AfD "calls into question Germany's democratic institutions and rules," and therefore such an election outcome cannot be ignored. "This affects us — and me personally as well. And I must admit: this is the most serious election defeat the CDU has suffered in recent years, even in recent decades. All of this, of course, will have consequences," the Chancellor stated. He added that the governing coalition of the CDU and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) must prevent the further strengthening of right-wing populism, as well as better explain to citizens the essence of the reforms being carried out and more convincingly convey the reasons for the corresponding decisions.
Contradictory data
Publications from various outlets note a slight discrepancy in the wording Merz used to describe his state after the results were announced. In the text quoting the Chancellor's direct speech (RBC-Ukraine), he says: "We are all deeply surprised." Meanwhile, in the headline and presentation of the material on the Delfi.lv portal, the same reaction is conveyed as "deeply shocked." The difference between "surprise" and "shock" may be either the result of a stenographic inaccuracy or translation, or a reflection of the fact that in different segments of the press conference Merz used both formulations. The essence of the assessment — the unexpectedness and severity of the result for the CDU — is consistent in both versions.
Context: what Ukrainian experts say
Earlier, former Ukrainian Consul in Munich and Chancellor of the Ukrainian Free University Dmytro Shevchenko noted that the AfD's victory in local elections could over time affect the volume and nature of aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens in Germany. At the same time, he emphasized that at the federal state level, questions of foreign policy and military support are not directly decided, and the holding of early federal elections in Germany currently remains unlikely. Thus, even with the AfD remaining in regional parliaments, key decisions on supporting Kyiv continue to be made in Berlin, where, as Merz stated, the course is not changing.
