German Chancellor Merz Vows to Stay On After CDU's Historic Election Defeats
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to continue his reform agenda despite his CDU party suffering its worst election results in decades in two state votes, with the far-right AfD making major gains. The party fell below the 5% threshold in one state while losing ground to the Left party in Berlin.
Historic Election Setbacks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to remain in office and press ahead with economic, tax and welfare reforms after his CDU suffered damaging defeats in two state elections. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, projections put the party at 4.9%, below the threshold for parliamentary representation and its lowest result in any German state since World War Two. The AfD led there with 37.9%, while in Berlin the CDU was projected second on 19.1%, behind the Left party on 25.3%.
Pattern of Decline for Merz's Coalition
The results follow the CDU's defeat to the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks earlier and renewed speculation over Merz's leadership. The string of poor showings has raised questions about the viability of Merz's leadership and the sustainability of his coalition government at the federal level, particularly as he faces mounting pressure from both the far-right AfD and left-wing parties.
Reform Agenda Remains Unchanged
Merz called the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania result a "disaster" but said the reforms "have to come". The package includes income-tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, pension reform and reduced bureaucracy. Despite acknowledging the electoral setback, Merz signaled his intention to proceed with contentious economic restructuring measures that some analysts argue may have contributed to voter frustration with the CDU.
AfD's Growing Strength
The AfD made gains in both states but was not close to forming a regional government. The alternative for Germany party has capitalized on voter discontent, particularly in the former East German states where the CDU's performance has weakened most sharply. The results underscore the ongoing fragmentation of Germany's political landscape and the challenge facing mainstream parties in containing the AfD's rise.