Merz abruptly cancels call with Trump over controversial remarks about German elections
Photo: Merz declined talks with Trump (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled scheduled talks with US President Donald Trump over his remarks about the election in Saxony-Anhalt, DW reports.
Why Merz canceled the call
The phone call between the leaders was scheduled to take place ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.
However, Merz decided to cancel it after Donald Trump publicly congratulated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on its victory in the regional election.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the AfD's success a great night, saying Germans were tired of "horrible immigration rules."
He ended his post with the slogan "MGGA!!!" (Make Germany Great Again).
The chancellor's spokesperson emphasized that the cancellation of the call was not due to scheduling issues.
At the same time, Berlin reiterated Merz's clear position that Germany opposes any foreign interference in its domestic political affairs.
Berlin's position on the AfD and aid to Ukraine
In the election in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD won nearly 44% of the vote.
Merz called it a "destructive force" and said the party would under no circumstances be able to secure a majority to form a government.
After the results were announced, AfD representative Ulrich Siegmund called for an end to military and financial support for Kyiv.
In response, Friedrich Merz assured that Germany would continue helping Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Elections in Germany and risks for Ukraine
In the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won record support, receiving more than twice as many votes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU.
The result allowed the far-right party to seek power at the state level for the first time.
Experts say that the AfD's election victory could eventually affect Germany's support for Ukraine and influence the country's overall attitude toward Ukrainian refugees.
