German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described his party's performance in two state elections as a 'disaster' but vowed to stay in office, after the far-right AfD and the leftwing Die Linke made major gains.
Key facts
- Merz's CDU suffered heavy losses in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
- The far-right AfD won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to the Guardian.
- Leftwing Die Linke was on course for victory in Berlin.
- The CDU tallied just over the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its worst-ever state score there.
- Merz vowed to remain in office and continue pursuing economic reforms.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described the outcome of two state elections as a “disaster” for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), but has vowed to remain in office, according to reports from the BBC, Sky News and the Guardian.
Exit polls showed damaging losses for the CDU in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the BBC reported. The results represented a significant setback for the party in two closely watched regional contests.
According to the Guardian, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the leftwing Die Linke was on course for victory in Berlin. The dual outcome saw the chancellor’s conservatives lose ground to parties on opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Preliminary results indicated the CDU tallied just over the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament in the coastal region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which the Guardian described as the party’s worst-ever state score there. It was this result that Merz labelled a “disaster”.
Despite the losses, Merz said he would stay in office and continue to fight for what the Guardian described as future-proofing economic reforms. Sky News reported that the chancellor, though under pressure, made clear his intention to remain in his post.
The results add to the challenges facing Merz’s government as it navigates a fragmented political landscape, with gains for both the far-right AfD and the leftwing Die Linke underscoring shifting voter sentiment across German states.
Why it matters
State election results are often seen as a barometer of national political sentiment in Germany, and heavy losses for the chancellor's party signal growing pressure on his leadership. The gains for both far-right and leftwing parties reflect a fragmenting political landscape that could complicate governing at the federal level.
Frequently asked questions
Which parties won the German state elections?
According to the Guardian, the far-right AfD won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the leftwing Die Linke was on course for victory in Berlin.
Is Friedrich Merz resigning after the results?
No. Despite calling the results a 'disaster,' Merz vowed to stay in office and continue pursuing economic reforms, as reported by the BBC, Sky News and the Guardian.
How badly did the CDU perform?
The CDU tallied just over the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which the Guardian described as the party's worst-ever state score there.