Reiner Haseloff, the former Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, has advised federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz that he needs to address the nation with an empathetic speech to reconnect with the German public. Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Tuesday, Haseloff stated, “He knows that he is the most unpopular chancellor in German history. He knows that the CDU has never been this far down. Ultimately, the CDU in Germany and the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt are currently no different from each other. They are tenths apart. If you factor in strategic voting-which played a role in our state-we are at least as ‘good,’ in quotation marks, as the federal CDU, including the CSU. You cannot ignore these facts.”
Haseloff strongly recommended that the Chancellor make a fundamental appeal to the populace during critical situations, emphasizing empathy. He referenced his own experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and other periods, noting that leaders, whether state ministers or the Chancellor, must “go deep” into serious issues. In his view, the focus must be on general stability and democracy, ensuring that the political center remains capable of forming majorities and that polarization toward the far left and far right does not escalate further.
Regarding Merz’s recent announcement of measures against high fuel prices, Haseloff viewed the action as legitimate. He noted that external events, such as the Houthi occupation in certain areas, introduced new volatility after gas prices appeared to settle somewhat at a high level. He stressed that if such incidents occur, a reaction is essential, especially since the current price situation is becoming existential for many citizens.
Explaining the electoral defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, Haseloff attributed it primarily to the mobilization of previously non-voters who had sought to unseat the national chancellor. He argued that the activation of this “very strong corps of non-voters, who had previously stayed home,” is what led to the current election scenario.
Finally, Haseloff rejected the notion of a ban on the AfD. He argued that such a process would take years. Furthermore, he stated that the electoral system cannot simply exclude voters from the race based on political preference. He countered that, similar to the situation in his own state, disqualifying parties based on them “disturbing or destabilizing the democratic center” goes too far in the context of conscientious voting.
