German leader vows to press on with agenda despite 'disaster' state election losses to AfD
The chancellor rejected calls to step aside and said Germany needs difficult reforms after the CDU posted its worst state-election result in decades.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to remain in office Sunday after his Christian Democratic Union suffered a historic 5% result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the party's lowest score since World War II.
- Taking office 16 months ago, Merz has struggled to rally the nation, with his popularity plummeting following the CDU's stinging defeat to the AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6.
- In Berlin, the CDU finished second with 20%, trailing Die Linke at 24.5%, while the Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany secured 37% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 16% in Berlin.
- Although calls for his resignation emerged within his party, eight state premiers declared on Wednesday that Germany needs "stability now more than ever" rather than "discussions about personnel" regarding the chancellor.
- Merz cancelled a scheduled trip to New York next week for the General Assembly, insisting that Germany's economic troubles make his reform agenda more urgent, not less.
101 Articles
101 Articles
The CDU has suffered another debacle in the state elections. The worst fears could come true. Can the chancellor keep himself?
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) came first in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state elections this Sunday, increasing pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz two weeks after the victory of the far-right legend in Saxony-Anhalt. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), party of the head of government, recorded its worst performance in a state election since 1949, according to polls.
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) described the outcome of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania regional elections as "a disaster for his party, but announced that he does not intend to give up the functions he holds. Article The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the first reaction after the crushing defeat of his party at the regional elections: "The results cannot be cosmetized. I am a disaster first appears in Romania TV.
Germany's ruling party suffered defeats to far-right parties in two more state elections, with the Chancellor frankly admitting the results were disastrous but insisting she would not resign.
"Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party reviews on or 5.5 per cent in the inning parliamentary changes in Mecklenburg-Vorpomern.
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