German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to remain in office and continue pursuing his government’s reform programme after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a severe setback in two regional elections.
The results in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin delivered a major political warning for Merz’s centre-right party, with voters shifting support toward parties on both the political right and left. Merz acknowledged the seriousness of the outcome, describing the CDU’s performance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a “disaster,” but rejected suggestions that he should step aside.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU received about 4.9% of the vote, leaving it below the 5% threshold required for representation in the state parliament. The result was described by Reuters as the party’s worst state-level performance in postwar Germany. At the same time, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the strongest party in the state, reflecting the continued growth of support for the right-wing opposition.
Berlin produced another difficult result for the chancellor’s party. The Left party led the election with about 25.3%, while the CDU recorded roughly 19%. The AfD also secured a significant share of the vote in the capital, highlighting a fragmented political landscape in which traditional governing parties face competition from both sides.
The elections have intensified questions about Merz’s political position, particularly after a series of difficult results for the CDU. Opposition figures have called for his resignation, while supporters within the conservative camp have publicly backed him. Eight CDU state premiers previously issued a joint statement supporting Merz and arguing that the party should concentrate on restoring public confidence through government action.
Merz, however, has indicated that he intends to respond by pressing ahead rather than changing course. His government has been working on economic, tax, pension and welfare reforms intended to address Germany’s economic difficulties. The chancellor has argued that such changes require persistence and political determination, even as his government faces criticism over living costs, energy prices and economic conditions.
The election results also highlight the growing challenge posed by Germany’s increasingly fragmented political environment. The AfD’s strong performance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and gains elsewhere have increased pressure on the established parties, while the rise of the Left in Berlin demonstrates that dissatisfaction is not confined to one side of the political spectrum.
For Merz, the immediate challenge is therefore twofold: maintaining unity within the CDU while convincing voters that his government’s policies can address Germany’s economic and social concerns. Although the latest elections were held at state level rather than nationally, their results have intensified scrutiny of the chancellor and the direction of his government.
Merz has made clear that he intends to remain chancellor and continue with his reform agenda. The coming months will show how his government responds to the electoral setback and whether it can rebuild support while navigating growing political competition across Germany.