The German chancellor spoke at a CDU campaign event in Berlin ahead of Sunday’s state election, amid growing political pressure following a difficult result in Saxony-Anhalt.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News: International Politics Desk
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Germany must find a new role in a changing international environment as global power relationships continue to shift.
Merz made the remarks during a Christian Democratic Union campaign event in Berlin on Thursday, September 17, as the party entered the final stage of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s election to Berlin’s House of Representatives.
The chancellor’s appearance comes at a politically sensitive moment for his government and the CDU. The party suffered a major setback in the recent Saxony-Anhalt state election, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured nearly 44 percent of the vote.
Merz has acknowledged the significance of the result but has rejected calls for him to step aside. His political future has nevertheless become a subject of debate within Germany’s political establishment as two further state elections approach.
At Thursday’s campaign event, Merz appeared alongside Berlin CDU lead candidate Stefan Evers as the party made its final appeal to voters before Sunday’s poll. The CDU campaign was conducted under the message of keeping extremists out of government and seeking solutions from the political centre.
The upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are being closely watched because of their potential implications for the CDU and Merz’s leadership of the party. German media have reported increased internal discussion about his position following the party’s performance in Saxony-Anhalt.
The pressure comes as the AfD continues to gain political ground in parts of Germany. Its strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt has intensified debate over immigration, the economy, Germany’s security policy and the future direction of the country’s mainstream parties.
Merz has continued to defend his government’s broader political course, including Germany’s position on European security and support for Ukraine. Reuters reported that he has rejected changing his fundamental approach despite the AfD’s recent gains.
The German chancellor’s comments about the changing global balance also come as Europe faces a more complex security and economic environment, with Germany seeking to define its responsibilities within Europe and its wider international partnerships.
Sunday’s elections are therefore taking place against both state-level political issues and a wider debate over the direction of Germany’s governing CDU and the leadership of Merz.
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