German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to keep his coalition government together after the CDU suffered defeats in two state elections and was pushed out of the Mecklenburg parliament, dismissing speculation over his position.
Key facts
- Merz's CDU lost two state elections and was ejected from the Mecklenburg parliament.
- Merz held an early meeting with CDU leadership in Berlin on Monday to shore up support.
- He dismissed speculation over his position, calling his government vital for Germany's 'democratic future'.
- Merz vowed his coalition would press ahead with an unpopular reform agenda.
- The losses came as the far-right AfD made gains, according to the Guardian.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sought to shore up support for his flagging chancellorship after his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered heavy defeats in two state elections, according to the Guardian.
The CDU’s poor showing included being ejected from the parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, deepening the pressure on Merz as unrest grows within his party.
Merz held an early meeting in Berlin with the CDU leadership on Monday. He dismissed speculation over his position, saying it was vital for the country’s “democratic future” that he and his coalition government remained in place.
The chancellor has vowed that his fractious coalition government will plough ahead with what the Guardian described as an unpopular reform agenda, despite the setback at the polls.
The Guardian characterised the results as a “drubbing” and reported that the latest election humiliation has put Merz “on borrowed time” amid rising discontent within his party.
The defeats represent another advance for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), continuing a pattern of losses for Merz’s conservatives in state-level contests, according to the outlet.
Why it matters
State election results in Germany can signal shifting political ground at the national level, and repeated CDU losses to the far-right AfD raise questions about the stability of Merz's coalition. How the chancellor responds may shape the direction of Germany's government and its contested reform agenda.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Chancellor Merz under pressure?
His CDU suffered defeats in two state elections and was ejected from the Mecklenburg parliament, fuelling speculation over his position and growing unrest within his party, according to the Guardian.
How has Merz responded to the losses?
He held a meeting with CDU leadership in Berlin, dismissed speculation over his position, and vowed to keep his coalition together for the good of the country's 'democratic future' while pressing ahead with his reform agenda.
Who benefited from the CDU's defeats?
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained ground, with the Guardian reporting the results as another loss to the far right for Merz's conservatives.