--- title: "Merz says AfD victory has shaken CDU to its core" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core" category: "Politics" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-09-07T15:05:12.273Z" source_reported: "2026-09-07T14:01:30.000Z" updated: "2026-09-07T15:05:12.273Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-07T15:00:20.643574+00:00" --- # Merz says AfD victory has shaken CDU to its core *German Chancellor acknowledges party's failure to connect with voters after regional election defeat.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to Merz, with one full report and multiple digests. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Most outlets used digests, limiting the depth of reporting and analysis. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'shaken to the core' and 'tectonic upheaval'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The AfD won the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt with 43.8% of the vote, according to serbestiyet.com. - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that his party, the CDU, has been "shaken to the core" by the AfD's victory. - Merz acknowledged that the CDU has failed to establish an emotional connection with voters in the region. - Merz ruled out any form of cooperation with the AfD, stating the party aims to destroy the CDU. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt with 43.8% of the vote, as reported by serbestiyet.com. This result led to a significant reaction from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). ## Divergent reports on CDU's vote share While serbestiyet.com reported the AfD won with 43.8% of the vote, it also stated that Friedrich Merz's CDU dropped to 17.2% in Saxony-Anhalt. Other reports did not specify the CDU's vote share. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific vote share of the AfD (43.8%) or the CDU (17.2%) in Saxony-Anhalt, which were reported by serbestiyet.com and IndexHR respectively. The right-rated digests also do not mention Merz's statement that the AfD aims to destroy the CDU. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 9% (1) - Centre: 18% (2) - Right: 73% (8) 15 of 26 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-07T15:00:20.643574+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-07T15:15:40.315Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The single left-rated report from IndexHR, which published a full report, focused on Friedrich Merz's strong reaction to the AfD's victory. Merz stated that the CDU was "shaken to its foundations" and acknowledged a failure to establish an emotional connection with voters in Saxony-Anhalt. He also explicitly ruled out any cooperation with the AfD, describing it as a party that "wants to destroy the CDU". Merz's comments were made during a closed-door meeting of the CDU's presidency and were described as a "tectonic upheaval" for the German party system, also affecting the federal government. ### Centre - The two centre-rated reports from France24 and ANSA highlighted Friedrich Merz's reaction to the AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt. France24's digest posed the question "What now for Germany's Merz after AfD win?", suggesting the result was a defeat for him and a warning to other European leaders. ANSA's digest reported Merz stating the CDU is "shaken in the foundations" during a meeting of the CDU's Federal Executive Committee. ### Right - Eight right-rated reports focused on Friedrich Merz's statements following the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Multiple digests, citing Bild and ANP, reported Merz saying the CDU was "shocked to its core" and that neither the party, Merz, nor the federal government could "continue as before". Handelsblatt reported Merz calling it the CDU's "worst electoral defeat for decades". Other digests mentioned Merz describing the situation as a "tectonic upheaval" in the party system and acknowledged a failure to connect emotionally with the public. Some reports noted Merz ruled out cooperation with the AfD, with one digest stating the AfD "wants to completely destroy us". **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 9 - unknown: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [France24](https://france24.com/en/video/20260907-what-now-for-germany-s-merz-after-afd-win) — What now for Germany's Merz after AfD win? - [serbestiyet.com](https://serbestiyet.com/featured/afdnin-tarihi-zaferi-merzi-sarsti-dunden-beri-butun-almanyada-bir-sey-degisti-248164) — AfD's Historic Victory Shook Merz: "Something Has Changed Throughout Germany Since Yesterday" - Serbestiyet - [Unknown](https://dimokratia.gr/kosmos/742049/merts-to-politiko-perivallon-echei-pleon-katastei-exairetika-apaititiko) — Merz: The Political Environment Has Now Become Extremely Demanding - [The Social Post](https://thesocialpost.it/2026/09/07/germania-la-vittoria-di-afd-mette-in-ginocchio-merz-la-costituzione-si-imporra) — Germany: AfD's Victory Brings Merz to His Knees: "The Constitution Will prevail." - [Bigodino](https://bigodino.it/attualita/germania-afd-merz-costituzione-si-imporra.html) — Germany, the Victory of AfD Overwhelms Merz: "The Constitution Will Impose Itself" - [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/internationaal/10609745/liveblog-oekraine-dode-en-gewonden-door-oekraiense-droneaanval-op-de-krim) — Liveblog Ukraine | Merz: AfD Win Changes Nothing Germany's Stance on Ukraine - [enikos.gr](https://enikos.gr/international/merts-se-vathy-sok-meta-ti-niki-tou-afd-kati-allaxe-sti-germania-proeidopoiei-me-paremvasi-an-xeperastoun-ta-oria/2640206) — Merz in "Deep Shock" After AfD Victory: "Something Has Changed in Germany" – Warns of Intervention if Limits Are Crossed - [Kronen Zeitung](https://krone.at/4285910) — After CDU Election Debacle: Now Chancellor Merz Speaks - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/a200c657570c493e) — Merz: AfD's regional win to have international impact - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/merz-uzdrmani-smo-do-temelja/2831835.aspx) — Merz: We Are Shaken to the Core - [San Marino Rtv](https://sanmarinortv.sm/news/mondo-c8/germania-l-onda-afd-scuote-l-europa-chiaruzzi-una-torsione-storica-a295552) — Germany, the AfD Wave Shakes Europe. Chiaruzzi: 'A Historic Twist' - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2158335/merts-gia-afd-tektoniki-anatarachi-poy-klonise-sythemela-to-cdu) — Merz on AfD Victory: Tectonic Upheaval that Shook the CDU to Its Foundations - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/230473_anisyhia-sto-cdu-meta-ti-niki-tis-afd-sti-saxonia-anhalt-dilonei-o-merts) — Merz: AfD's Victory in Saxony-Anhalt Shook the CDU - [Rzeczpospolita](https://rp.pl/polityka/art45106471-friedrich-merz-ostrzega-cdu-afd-chce-nas-calkowicie-zniszczyc) — Friedrich Merz Warns CDU: AfD Wants to Completely Destroy Us - [anlatilaninotesi.com.tr](https://anlatilaninotesi.com.tr/20260907/merzden-afdnin-secim-zaferine-ilk-yorum-partimizi-temellerinden-sarsti-eskisi-gibi-devam-edemeyiz-1108555913.html) — First Comment From Merz on AfD's Election Victory: It Shook Our Party From Its Foundations, We Cannot Continue as Before - [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/09/07/merts-tektoniki-anatarachi-i-niki-tis-afd-gia-tin-cdu) — Merz: AfD's Victory Brought "Tectonic Upheaval" to the CDU - [Kristeligt Dagblad](https://kristeligt-dagblad.dk/udland/medie-merz-siger-afds-valgsejr-har-rystet-cdu-i-grundvolden) — Media: Merz Says AfD's Election Victory Has Shaken the CDU to Its Foundations - [berlingske.dk](https://berlingske.dk/internationalt/medie-merz-siger-at-afds-valgsejr-har-rystet-cdu-i-grundvolden) — Media: Merz Says AfD's Election Victory Has Shaken the CDU to Its Foundations - [BT](https://bt.dk/udland/medie-merz-siger-at-afds-valgsejr-har-rystet-cdu-i-grundvolden) — Media: Merz Says AfD's Election Victory Has Shaken the CDU to Its Foundations - [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/merz-na-verkiezingswinst-afd-cdu-tot-in-de-kern-geschokt) — Merz After AfD Election Victory: CDU Shocked to Its Core - [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/merz-na-verkiezingswinst-afd-cdu-tot-in-de-kern-geschokt) — Merz After AfD Election Victory: CDU Shocked to Its Core - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/1161871-merz-na-verkiezingswinst-afd-cdu-tot-in-de-kern-geschokt) — Merz After AfD Election Victory: CDU Shocked to Its Core - [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/09/07/merz-la-cdu-e-scossa-nelle-fondamenta_9f1f7797-6444-4747-add2-172fdcd57e0b.html) — Merz, 'the Cdu Is Shaken in the Foundations' - [IOL Portugal](https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/alemanha/alternativa-para-a-alemanha/nao-podemos-continuar-como-antes-merz-e-governo-alemao-abalados-com-vitoria-da-afd/20260907/6a9e992cd34e511da0b3742a) — "We Cannot Continue as Before": Merz and German Government "Shaked" with Victory of AfD - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/eu/2026/09/07/2572992.html) — ️Merz says Germany is undergoing a “tectonic upheaval” in its party system, agreeing that the government has failed to establish an emotional connection with the public - [Handelsblatt](https://handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/wahl-in-sachsen-anhalt-merz-schwerste-wahlniederlage-der-cdu-seit-jahrzehnten/100252039.html) — Election in Saxony-Anhalt: Merz – CDU's Worst Electoral Defeat for Decades ## Questions **What was the result of the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt?** The AfD won the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt with 43.8% of the vote, according to serbestiyet.com. This result was described as a significant defeat for the CDU. **How did German Chancellor Friedrich Merz react to the AfD's victory?** Friedrich Merz stated that his party, the CDU, has been "shaken to the core" and "shaken in the foundations" by the AfD's win. He acknowledged a failure to connect emotionally with voters and ruled out any cooperation with the AfD. **Did Friedrich Merz rule out working with the AfD?** Yes, Friedrich Merz explicitly ruled out any form of cooperation with the AfD. He stated that the AfD is a party that "wants to destroy the CDU" and therefore, cooperation is impossible. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Merz says AfD victory has shaken CDU to its core", https://mediabias.news/politics/merz-says-afd-victory-has-shaken-cdu-to-its-core