German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to remain despite heavy regional election losses

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he will remain in office despite the poor performance of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in two recent state elections. Exit polls and preliminary results showed the centre‑right party suffering significant setbacks in both Berlin and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern.

In the coastal state of Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania, the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the leading party, while the CDU managed to secure just over the 5 percent threshold needed to enter the state parliament. This result represents the party’s lowest ever share of the vote in the region, which Merz described as a “disaster”.

In Berlin, the left‑wing Die Linke is on course to win the state election, further reducing the CDU’s presence in the capital’s parliament. The party’s losses in the city were also described as damaging by analysts, reflecting a broader decline in support for the CDU across the two states.

Following the results, Merz pledged to stay on as chancellor and to continue pursuing his agenda of “future‑proofing” economic reforms. He emphasized that the setbacks in the state elections would not deter his government’s policy objectives.

The election outcomes raise questions about the CDU’s standing ahead of upcoming national elections, but Merz’s commitment to remain in office signals an intention to maintain continuity in the federal government while addressing the challenges highlighted by the recent state votes.