BERLIN — Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Friday that he will not allow the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to “ruin” the country, rallying conservatives at a Christian Democrat (CDU) conference in Stuttgart amid trailing polls and looming state elections.
Merz, echoing his Munich Security Conference remarks, rejected AfD advances and antisemitism while urging economic reforms to counter a harsh great-power rivalry era. He accepted delays in promised changes but recommitted to slashing bureaucracy, lowering energy costs, boosting investment, and overhauling welfare and pensions after internal party pushback.
Delegates erupted in applause for former Chancellor Angela Merkel on her first conference appearance since 2021, underscoring CDU unity against AfD’s momentum.
Elections kick off next month in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, followed by eastern Saxony-Anhalt, AfD’s prime target for a historic state win. Merz framed prosperity as national security, positioning CDU to reclaim ground in a polarized landscape.