German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Sunday that he intends to remain in office following significant electoral setbacks in two state elections, rejecting calls to abandon his government’s reform agenda. The Center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faced a harsh verdict from voters, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured substantial gains across the region.
According to exit polls conducted by public broadcaster ARD, the CDU polled at just 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This figure marks the party’s lowest post-World War II result in any German state. Meanwhile, in Berlin, the CDU was projected to finish second with 20% of the vote, trailing the Left party, which secured 24.5%.
Merz acknowledged the outcome as a “disaster” for his party but struck a defiant tone regarding the path forward. He argued that Germany’s current economic and political challenges necessitate difficult reforms rather than a retreat from them. Pledging to proceed with “backbone, steadfastness and patience,” the Chancellor insisted that the urgency for change has only increased despite the election results.
The losses compound earlier damage to Merz’s authority from the Sept. 6 election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU lost to the AfD. That result was viewed as a shock by many Germans, who had long believed the nation had developed immunity to nationalism after confronting its Nazi past through education and strict laws against persecution.
Since taking office 16 months ago, Merz has struggled to improve the economic outlook or shift the national mood. His popularity has declined significantly, and the strong performance by the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt—where the party has its best opportunity yet to form a regional government since the war—has further weakened his standing on the national stage.
Although there have been internal calls within the CDU over the past two weeks for Merz to step down, no top-level allies have publicly demanded his departure, with many advising against personnel debates at this time. Anticipating a challenging period ahead, Merz canceled a planned trip to New York next week for the U.N. General Assembly. Despite the political headwinds, he has repeatedly stated his determination to serve out his full term as chancellor.
Leave a Reply