A bad night at the ballot box is no reason to abandon reforms Germany desperately needs. The economy is stalling and the political center is fraying, which makes hard choices more urgent, not less. Backbone, steadfastness and patience are exactly what the moment demands, and caving to panic would only deepen the mess.
Calling a collapse to under 5% a "disaster" and then carrying on as if nothing happened is an insult to voters. When a chancellor's approval sinks to around 10% while the AfD surges past 35% in the east, that is a verdict, not a bump in the road. Clinging to power after being wiped out of a state parliament is a betrayal of the very people who put the CDU there.
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 7.4.1