German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remains resolute, committing to advancing potentially difficult reforms following challenging results in two state elections. Exit polls conducted by ARD suggest that the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received only 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, marking a historical low for the party since World War II. Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained significant ground.
Merz described the election outcome as a “disaster” yet affirmed his intention to proceed with his government’s reform plan. He underscored the urgency of economic and political issues in Germany, advocating steadfastness in facing potentially unpopular changes. “What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience,” Merz stated, emphasizing his resolve to demonstrate these qualities as both CDU leader and chancellor.
In Berlin, CDU was predicted to rank second with 20%, trailing behind Die Linke (The Left Party) at 24.5%. “In our city, love and justice have triumphed over hatred,” proclaimed Die Linke’s lead candidate, Elif Eralp, celebrating her party’s success against the AfD.
Merz’s leadership had been already challenged by a significant loss to the AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6. This outcome disturbed many Germans, who had believed their nation had moved past nationalist sentiment. On Sunday, the AfD received 37% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 15.7% in Berlin, according to ARD. However, forming a regional government remains out of reach for them.
Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of AfD, criticized Merz’s response to the election, suggesting he should resign instead of maintaining his course. Merz countered these remarks by identifying his reforms as essential to combating growing authoritarian tendencies in society.
The CDU has a long history of governance in Germany. Merz, who took office 16 months ago, aimed to revitalize an economy struggling for growth. Despite some economic improvement, rising unemployment continues to pose a challenge. In August, unemployment exceeded 3 million, increasing by 36,000 from the previous year.
The strong AfD performance in Saxony-Anhalt, where it might form its first regional government, further strained Merz’s political stature. Despite internal CDU calls for replacing him, no senior figures have publicly demanded his resignation.
Merz has canceled a planned trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly, preparing instead for difficult times ahead. Despite challenges, he remains committed to completing his term as chancellor.
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