CDU leader Merz persistently accuses the traffic light parties for the growth of the AfD.
"Problems persist in the eastern region of the country," Merz stated, sharing his personal experience of spending extensive time in the east. He attributed ongoing struggles in daily life, refugee issues, education, business, and various other spheres as the root cause of the current political climate.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had surged in power during the European elections, while the traffic light parties faced setbacks. The AfD even secured the top spot in all five eastern federal states of Germany. They are optimistic about the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg in September, anticipating significant growth.
Merz claimed that the SPD, Greens, and FDP hold minimal influence in the east. Instead, he would prefer to compete against these parties in the regional arena, but finds himself battling the AfD instead. In contrast, the Christian Democrats (CDU) "still have a presence" in the east, according to Merz. The CDU is focusing on addressing challenging issues like integration, employment, and education policies as they prepare for the upcoming state elections.
