Armin Laschet defends Chancellor Merz amid election concerns

Former CDU leader Armin Laschet has addressed speculation regarding the stability of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership. Speaking on an ARD talk show, Laschet dismissed rumors of an imminent removal, noting that a chancellor can only be ousted through a constructive vote of no confidence requiring a parliamentary majority. He characterized Merz as being in a strong position.

However, Laschet expressed concern regarding the upcoming state election in Sachsen-Anhalt on September 6. Current polling indicates the AfD is significantly ahead of the CDU, while other parties, including the Greens, FDP, BSW, and SPD, face the possibility of failing to meet the five-percent threshold. Laschet highlighted the potential impact if a right-wing populist party were to achieve an absolute majority in a federal state for the first time.