+++ Deutschland-Gipfel +++: Merz zu Magdeburg: „Wer seine Stimme der AfD gibt, zerstört Glaubwürdigkeit“

In the aftermath of the events of the previous day, Chancellor Merz expressed his shock at the Landtag election in Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD politician Tobias Rausch was elected as the state's parliamentary speaker. Merz emphasized that this was a "historical rupture," noting that Rausch had received support from voices within the democratic camp.

The chancellor conveyed a sense of "extreme distress" over the fact that some legislators did not adhere to previously agreed-upon arrangements. He stated that choosing an MP from a right-wing extremist party to serve as parliamentary speaker was incompatible with his conscience and contradicted the values of the CDU. Merz warned that extremism from both the right and left was infiltrating our parliaments, and urged all parties in the center to take action to prevent such occurrences in the future, particularly before the next Bundestag election.

Germany, he said, was under immense pressure, citing the challenges faced by industries that have contributed to the nation's prosperity since the 19th century, as they struggle to adapt to a world where the AI revolution is swiftly transforming business models. Additionally, geopolitical crises such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, the impact of China's trade policies on German companies, and supply chain disruptions caused by the Iran war, all contribute to the current challenges faced by the country.