Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared his intention to stay in his position and continue pursuing economic reforms despite significant electoral setbacks for his Christian Democratic Union in two state contests held on Sunday.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, preliminary results showed the CDU received approximately 4.9% of the vote, falling below the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation. Merz characterized this as a “disaster” and noted it would mark the party’s weakest state-level performance on record. Meanwhile, the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland secured first place in the region with 38.3%, more than doubling its previous result in the area. In Berlin, the left-wing Die Linke appeared positioned to win with roughly 25% support, maintaining a five-point advantage over the incumbent CDU, with the AfD also achieving double-digit results.
The elections represented a continuation of difficulties for Merz, who has faced mounting political pressure following prior defeats. Two weeks earlier, the AfD had dominated Saxony-Anhalt state elections with a record 44%, intensifying questions about the chancellor’s viability. Though the far-right party has emerged as the strongest faction in multiple regions, cooperation agreements among other parties have prevented it from assuming governmental authority in those areas.
During remarks made on election night, Merz acknowledged the CDU lacked advantageous conditions from the federal government in both contests. He outlined plans to advance reforms in taxation, healthcare, pensions and administrative efficiency while addressing what he described as eroding institutional trust and increasingly polarized public discourse. Merz positioned economic reform as a counter to rising authoritarianism.
The chancellor’s political standing has deteriorated significantly since assuming office in May 2025. He leads a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats but has struggled to achieve economic improvement or reduce far-right support as promised. National polling indicates only 10% of Germans express satisfaction with his leadership, with the AfD currently commanding approximately 30% support nationally and calling for significant policy shifts including euro withdrawal and mass migrant deportations.
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