German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the far-right AfD's historic state election victory showed that deep reforms are needed, but he stressed that basic democratic values remain valid.
"I want to assure everyone in our country of this: Our institutions are resilient and stable. Our Basic Law protects and guarantees this order," Merz said after what he described as the worst defeat for his party, the CDU, in decades in the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
"This message is also directed at our friends in Europe and across the globe," he added.
Merz also stuck by his reform decisions made last year despite the election defeat. "That is what we need to deliver on now; it is what I want to deliver on, and that is the stance I am taking into talks with our coalition partner," said Merz.
AfD's state election win will not change Ukraine support, Merz says
Merz also said that the fact that AfD is a pro-Russia party would not change the federal government's support for Ukraine and warned that there is a very concrete threat facing Germany's internal security.
"And I want to make this very clear: 2,500 kilometers east of here, people are especially delighted with this election result in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt," said Merz, in reference to Russia.
This is a developing story.