Merz booed, called 'warmonger' and 'Pinocchio' at East German campaign stop

"Many voters say: I want to send a message now. Currently, only the AfD offers that," says Insa managing director Hermann Binkert about the high poll numbers for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt.

During his first campaign appearance in East Germany, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces protests. A planned press statement is canceled at short notice. All news in the live ticker.

Final sprint in Saxony-Anhalt: A new state parliament will be elected on Sunday. The AfD is clearly ahead of the CDU in the latest polls and hopes for a historic success. Two weeks later, elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin. All important developments can be found here in the live ticker.

Live Updates

5:46 PM – Monday, August 31

Booing for Merz during campaign appearance in Kühlungsborn

During a campaign visit to the Baltic resort of Kühlungsborn in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz was partly booed and insulted. On the beach promenade, some people called the CDU politician a "warmonger," "Pinocchio," or chanted "Resign." However, they also faced opposition from the audience – from people who appealed to the decency of the loud Merz opponents.

A previously announced press statement by the Chancellor did not take place. There was no explanation for this upon request from the CDU team. Merz spoke with people from the audience at a campaign stand across barriers.

Merz also plans to travel to Saxony-Anhalt today for his first campaign appointment ahead of the eagerly awaited state election there next Sunday. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the state parliament will be newly elected in just under three weeks.

Source: DANNY GOHLKE/AFP

2:57 PM – Monday, August 31

Schulze calls AfD candidate Siegmund a "Marionette"

Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President Sven Schulze sharply attacked AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund, calling him a "marionette" of AfD leader Alice Weidel. In an interview with "Spiegel," the CDU politician said: "In the end, Mr. Siegmund is nothing more than a marionette for completely different people, especially for Ms. Weidel, who wants to gain influence in Berlin from Saxony-Anhalt."

2:55 PM – Monday, August 31

U18 election: Youth in Saxony-Anhalt votes for Left Party ahead of AfD

In a non-representative U18 state election for children and young people in Saxony-Anhalt, the Left Party clearly became the strongest force with just over 31 percent – followed by the AfD with 22.1 percent. Then came the Greens with 12.7 percent, the SPD with 8.7 percent, and the CDU with 6.6 percent, according to the Children and Youth Ring. A total of just over 18.8 percent went to other parties.

2:20 PM – Monday, August 31

Alice Weidel: Merz threatens voters in Saxony-Anhalt and wants to prevent political change of course by any means

AfD federal spokesperson Alice Weidel sharply criticized Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In light of increasing pressure – also from his own camp – Merz had warned voters in Saxony-Anhalt of "significant damage" in the event of an AfD takeover of government in the ARD summer interview.

Weidel then accused Merz of driving Germany's economic misery and deindustrialization more than any chancellor before him. "His arrogant threatening gestures toward the mature voters in Saxony-Anhalt show: The political elite in Berlin is trembling before the sovereign and the receipt they are issuing for their government failure," the AfD federal spokesperson declared.

Merz knows that his future and the continued existence of the black-red coalition could depend on the outcome of the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Weidel continued. With his "failed firewall policy," he had politically excluded the only remaining opposition force in Germany, thereby preventing urgently needed reforms – "at the expense of prosperity, jobs, and internal security."

2:18 PM – Monday, August 31

"Saxony-Anhalt must not become an experimental field"

"I do not want my..."