Sep
4
2026
Friedrich Merz, CDU leader, faces a rising challenge from the Alternative for Germany party ahead of upcoming elections. The AfD has gained ground in recent state votes by capitalizing on economic discontent and migration concerns. Merz has positioned himself as the main bulwark against the far-right grouping. The cartoon frames this contest as a direct heroic struggle, with Merz cast as the defender wielding traditional weapons against a powerful, emerging threat. It endorses the view that mainstream conservatives must actively combat the AfD rather than accommodate it.
