CDU Leader Friedrich Merz Calls for Reforms as German Jews Warn of Far-Right AfD Rise
Following a major electoral defeat, CDU leader Friedrich Merz called for fundamental reforms in Germany. Meanwhile, Jewish leaders expressed deep concern over the rise of the far-right AfD party, warning of its radical stance and antisemitic rhetoric.
Following a major electoral defeat, Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), declared on Monday that the country requires "fundamental reforms" and asserted that his determination to bring about change remains "unshaken."
"I want to assure all citizens of our country: our institutions are resilient and stable. Our Basic Law protects and guarantees this order. This message is also directed to our friends in Europe and around the world," Merz stated. "This is a result from which we cannot return to business as usual."
According to a report by the German newspaper Bild, Merz convened emergency talks within the CDU earlier on Monday to discuss how the party, which governs at the national level, should respond to the election results.
During the meetings, Merz reportedly admitted that the outcome "shakes our party to its very foundations," calling it the "biggest setback in years, or even decades" for the CDU. "We cannot simply continue as before, and neither can I, nor the federal government," he was quoted as saying.
Rising Anxiety in the Jewish Community
The electoral surge of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, alongside the rise of far-left factions and Islamist-driven antisemitism, has sparked deep concern within the German Jewish community regarding its long-term future.
Elio Adler, founder and chairman of the German Jewish democratic initiative WerteInitiative, expressed his worries in an interview:
"I am concerned. Jewish life in Germany depends on a strong rule of law, democratic institutions, and reliable protection of minorities. Therefore, an increasingly nationalist definition of who truly 'belongs' to Germany is dangerous for Jews as well."
Adler warned against politics based on ethnic division. "History teaches us to be highly suspicious of politics based on ethnic affiliation, collective suspicion, and a constant division between 'us' and 'them.' Today the target may be Muslims. Tomorrow, the definition of who belongs to 'us' could change."
Addressing whether Jewish organizations should build bridges with the AfD, Adler drew a clear line:
"We must always talk to people, including AfD voters, to understand their motives. But dialogue is not the same as political legitimization. Jewish organizations must not allow themselves to become a stamp of approval or respectability for any party. I would make a very clear distinction: bridges with people, yes. Normalization of extremist politics, no."
"Not a Normal Right-Wing Party"
Dr. Remko Leemhuis, director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Berlin, cautioned against any romanticized views of the AfD abroad, particularly in Israel. He emphasized that the AfD is fundamentally different from other Western European far-right parties, such as Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy or Marine Le Pen's National Rally.
"Even in the European Parliament, the AfD does not sit in the same faction as Meloni's or Le Pen's parties, because for those two parties, downplaying the severity of Nazism and its associated crimes is unacceptable," Leemhuis explained. He added that while Meloni has moved toward the political center on key EU and NATO issues, the AfD continues to radicalize.
Leemhuis pointed to the AfD's response to the October 7 massacre and subsequent escalations with Iran as evidence of its stance. Four days after the Hamas attacks, AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla spoke only of "war casualties" and demanded "de-escalation" rather than expressing solidarity with Israel, effectively equating victims with perpetrators. A poll showed that only 70.6% of AfD voters viewed Hamas's role negatively—the lowest rate among all political parties in Germany.
Furthermore, Leemhuis noted that in August 2025, Chrupalla explicitly accused Israel of "crimes" in Gaza. During Israeli and American strikes against Iran in June 2025 and February 2026, the AfD leadership issued joint statements opposing Israel's actions, demanding "restraint" and complaining about "destabilization" that they claimed "is not in German interests."
According to Leemhuis, this rhetoric places Israel's self-defense in the same category as a destabilizing threat. He also cited a 2022 representative survey showing that support for antisemitic stereotypes was significantly higher among AfD voters than the general public. He concluded that voters support the AfD out of genuine ideological conviction rather than mere economic protest.
