German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has criticized votes cast for the AfD while cautioning against drawing hasty conclusions, according to Spiegel. The remarks come amid a wider debate in German politics over the far-right party's recent gains.
Separately, Spiegel reports that Hendrik Wüst, a CDU figure, described the election of an AfD parliamentary president in Saxony-Anhalt as a deep rupture in the republic. The two statements reflect unease within the CDU over the AfD's growing role in state politics.
The wider coverage points to a tense period for the CDU and its leadership. One report, carried by WEB.DE, suggested that significant problems could lie ahead for Merz and his party. The SPD has also weighed in, with WELT describing a new position paper and referring to a unique breach of taboo linked to the Bebelplatz.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pressed the SPD toward protest, telling n-tv that he could not stomach the situation. His comment underscores how strongly parts of the political spectrum are reacting to the AfD's advance.
What to watch next is whether the CDU settles on a clear line toward the AfD and how the debate over Saxony-Anhalt's parliamentary leadership develops.
