Eight German State Leaders Back Merz Amid Leadership Speculation

In a show of unity amid intensifying political pressure, the leaders of eight German states have publicly voiced their support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The premiers, all members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), issued a joint statement emphasizing that restoring public confidence requires focusing on policy action rather than engaging in debates over personnel changes.

The backing comes at a critical juncture for Merz, who has served as chancellor for only 16 months. He is grappling with historically low approval ratings while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party experiences a significant surge in popularity. This dynamic has sparked widespread speculation regarding whether Merz has become an electoral liability for his party.

Despite the mounting criticism, Merz has vowed to remain in office. However, his leadership is set to face a decisive test this Sunday with state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Rumors of a potential “Kanzlertausch,” or chancellor swap, have circulated for months but intensified sharply after the CDU suffered a crushing defeat in Saxony-Anhalt earlier in September.

During that election, the AfD captured 43.8% of the vote, while the CDU plummeted to just 17.2%. This marked the first time since World War Two that a far-right party came within striking distance of governing a German state. Although the AfD remains three seats short of an outright majority and other parties refuse to coalition with them, the result signaled a major shift in eastern German politics.

In the aftermath of the loss, Merz launched a vigorous defense, characterizing the AfD as a “destructive force” and accusing its migration policies of amounting to an “ethnic cleansing” of skilled workers. The AfD responded by filing a defamation complaint against the chancellor, labeling his remarks as “baseless” and “disgusting.”

Merz’s abrasive communication style and personal unpopularity continue to raise questions about his viability. A recent poll by Bild indicated that only 14% of respondents believe he is the right person for the job. Nevertheless, the CDU’s eight state premiers—representing Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia—insisted that the nation’s political landscape demands stability above all else.

Markus Söder, the premier of Bavaria and leader of the CDU’s sister party, the CSU, also reaffirmed his support for Merz. Meanwhile, an unnamed party source told Reuters that CDU officials plan to convene on Sunday to coordinate their response to the upcoming election results, where the AfD is expected to make further gains in Berlin and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

While the race in Berlin appears more competitive than in Saxony-Anhalt, with the CDU and The Left vying for first place, the worst-case scenario for Merz involves losing control of Berlin and failing to secure enough votes to enter parliament in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Although Germany lacks a strong tradition of mid-term leadership replacements, Merz could theoretically face a vote of no confidence or intense pressure to resign.

So far, no CDU member has announced an intention to challenge Merz directly, though names such as Söder, North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst, and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt have been floated as potential successors. Prior to becoming chancellor, Merz successfully rallied support for a massive €500bn defense infrastructure fund, earning international praise for his focus on European security. However, his path to power was fraught with difficulty, including multiple attempts to become CDU leader and a historic initial failure to secure the chancellorship despite having a coalition majority with the SPD.