AfD rise and Merz weakness alarm Brussels ahead of German super election year

El País reports that the far-right AfD's ascent and perceived weakness of CDU leader Friedrich Merz are raising concerns in Brussels about Berlin's future stance on key European issues. The piece frames this as a prelude to a 'super electoral year' in Germany, implying potential shifts in EU policy alignment. The analysis is based on political commentary rather than hard data, and the exact electoral timeline remains unspecified.