Friedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections

Germany’s Merz Vows to Stay After Another State Election ‘Disaster’

Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced growing pressure on Sunday after his center-right party finished behind far-right and far-left parties in state elections in the east.

Sep 20, 2026

Friedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections

Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in Berlin Germany’s embattled chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to stay in office and fight for future-proofing economic reforms despite heavy losses for his conservatives in two state elections, one to the far right and the other to a leftwing party. Preliminary results indicated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) tallied just over the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament in the coast

Sep 20, 2026

German Chancellor Merz vows to stay on despite 'disaster' in state election

Exit polls show damaging losses for Merz's centre-right CDU party in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Sep 20, 2026