Vor der Landtagswahl: Merz bleibt im Wahlkampf in Sachsen-Anhalt abgeschottet

Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz has warned against the economic and social consequences of a potential AfD state government in Sachsen-Anhalt before the state election. During his second visit to the constituency, Merz cautioned that voting for the AfD could jeopardize Germany's status as an open and liberal country, as well as Sachsen-Anhalt's appeal as a European business location.

The warning came during a joint visit to the UPM bio refinery in Leuna, where Merz and Minister-President Sven Schulze emphasized the importance of supporting the EU. Merz criticized the AfD's stance on the EU, stating that opposing the single market, Schengen, and the European Union would undermine the projects currently being developed.

UPM, a major employer in Leuna, has invested 1.3 billion euros in converting wood into basic chemicals. The AfD has previously not explicitly demanded EU withdrawal in its 2025 Bundestag election program. Merz's visit to Quedlinburg, Schulze's birthplace, also saw no direct contact with voters, with only UPM management and the company's works council present.