German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced intense pressure to stabilize his coalition government as of September 23, 2026, following the CDU's worst-ever regional election results with far-right gains threatening his legislative agenda. The electoral setback risked fracturing the governing coalition and derailing Merz's reform plans.
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Pressure is mounting on Chancellor Friedrich Merz after his CDU's defeats in two state elections, which saw more gains for the far-right AfD. Follow DW.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he plans to stay in office after his party suffered losses in two state elections on Sunday, vowing to push on with the government’s plans for potentially painful reforms. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took first place in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, exit polls showed, and also gained in strength in another
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a bruising electoral setback in two state elections on Sunday, including a historic defeat for his party, but vowed to press ahead with potentially painful reforms to Europe’s biggest economy. Exit polls by public broadcaster ARD on Sunday night indicated that Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, came in with just 5 per cent in Mecklenbu
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Germany’s #Merz admits ‘disaster’ in state elections, vows to press ahead with reforms www.france24.com/en/europe/20... #Germany #AfD #politics German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday described his CDU party's heavy losses in two regional elections as a "disaster", but vowed to push ahead with a reform drive. The far-right Alternative for…
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that the result was a "disaster" but said he would still move ahead with his government's reform agenda.
AfD ahead as Merz rues 'disaster' in worst state election result in postwar Germany eualive.net/afd-ahead-as... The chancellor’s low approval ratings, unpopular reforms and the triumph of the AfD in an earlier state election in Saxony-Anhalt have left his future in the balance The Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on ...
Pressure is growing on the German chancellor, with the hard-right AfD party projected to win key state elections, delivering the worst result for his conservative CDU party since 1949.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced growing pressure on Sunday after his center-right party finished behind far-right and far-left parties in state elections in the east.
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/w... Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced growing pressure on Sunday after his center-right party finished behind far-right and far-left parties in state elections in the east.
The German Chancellor's Christian Democratic Union won 4.9% of the vote on Sunday — the far-right AfD party won with 38.3%.
BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Sept 21 - Elections in two German states on Sunday resulted in severe losses for the country's leading Christian Democrats, whose Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing pressure to keep the far-right Alternative fuer Deutschland party at bay.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a struggle to stabilize his position and keep his agenda on track after voters inflicted two more defeats on his party, ejecting it from a state legislature for the first time.
#Germany CDU's colossal defeat in local elections signals ramifications for #Europe 's unity and most importantly, how its #energy, #decarbonization and #defense policy may shape up in the next cycle of the #EU presidency. #elonmusk #musk www.the-sun.com/news/1703519... GERMANY’s chancellor has vowed to stay in office – despite describing the elections as as a “disaster” for his party. Friedrich M
Friedrich Merz said he would stay put as German chancellor even after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered its worst-ever result in a state election, securing just 4.9% of the vote in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to preliminary results, missing a 5% threshold required to enter parliament. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the contest with 38.2%, whil
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will try to convince leaders from his conservative party to stick with him at a Monday morning meeting after his Christian Democratic Union suffered its worst-ever result in a state election.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has started the week more damaged than ever after his centre-right CDU party suffered two bruising regional election defeats at the hands of far-right and far-left parties.
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe is your essential morning viewing to stay ahead. Live from Brussels, we set the agenda for your day, catching you up with overnight markets news from the US and Asia. And we'll tell you what matters for investors in Europe, giving you insight before trading begins. Friedrich Merz said he would stay put as German chancellor even after his party suffered its worst-ever resu
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU fell below the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, losing all its seats in the state parliament. It marks the first time in the CDU’s history in modern Germany that the party has failed to clear the threshold required to enter a regional legislature. Merz insists he will stay on as chancellor.
I love Berlin. www.dw.com/en/germany-e... Pressure is mounting on Chancellor Friedrich Merz after his CDU's defeats in two state elections, which saw more gains for the far-right AfD. In the capital Berlin, the socialist Left Party finished f...
Germany's Merz fights for survival after 'disaster' in state election - www.reuters.com/world/europe... The far-right Alternative for Germany took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949.
Germany’s regional elections delivered mixed results for the country’s major parties. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right AfD won the largest share of the vote, but remains isolated as other parties have ruled out coalition talks, leaving incumbent SPD premier Manuela Schwesig with a realistic path to forming a government. In Berlin, meanwhile, the Left Party came out on top and could
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz conceded that the night spells "disaster" for the political center, but assured the public he'd push ahead with his federal agenda of tax and welfare reforms.
BERLIN, Sept 21 - Chancellor Friedrich Merz was clinging to power on Monday after his conservative party tumbled to its worst regional election defeat in postwar Germany and members of his coalition clashed over his unpopular reform agenda.
Chancellor acknowledges disastrous state election results but vow to push on is likely to further alienate voters, and his own party • Europe live – latest updates Friedrich Merz called it a “disaster”, and that was even before the full scale of the catastrophe for himself and his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came into view after Sunday’s state elections . In what one outlet calle
Friedrich Merz said he would remain as German chancellor after his Christian Democratic Union party posted it worst-ever result in a state election, failing to gain enough votes to win a single seat. The fallout has dealt a blow to Merz’s chancellorship, prompting calls among rank-and-file members to push Merz — who polls show is the least popular postwar German chancellor — out after only 16 mont
Germany’s far-right party will set out to displace Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union as the country’s main conservative force after scoring its second-straight state-level victory this month, according to a top party official.
BERLIN, Sept 21 - Germany's far right and far left both made big gains in Sunday's state elections, exposing yet again the erosion of the political centre in Europe's largest economy as well as Chancellor Friedrich Merz's weakening hold on power.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz reinforced his message that he’ll see through his reform agenda as Germany’s leader after his Christian Democratic Union crashed out of a regional parliament for the first time in the country’s post-World War II history.
The far right AfD claims it has become Germany’s new “people’s party”. The statement comes after AfD claimed its second regional election win in as many weeks, ramping up pressure on the poorly performing CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The far-left party also advanced, winning its third regional election thanks to its latest victory in Berlin. Perspective spoke to Hans Stark, professor in cont
Friedrich Merz clinging to power after Christian Democratic Union loses two state elections Europe live – latest updates Germany’s beleaguered leader, Friedrich Merz, has sought to shore up support for his flagging chancellorship among senior members of his conservative party after its drubbing at the polls in two state elections. Merz, who has vowed his fractious coalition government will plough
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced a struggle to stabilize his position and keep his agenda on track Monday after voters inflicted two more defeats on his party, ejecting it from a state legislature for the first time in its eight-decade history.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU representatives held a press conference on Monday, September 21, after the party suffered its worst regional election defeat in postwar Germany. Merz called the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a “disaster”, as the CDU fell below the 5% threshold for entering the state parliament. According to FRANCE 24 Europe editor Armen Georgian, Merz and his part
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Monday to keep his ruling coalition of the centre-right CDU and centre-left SPD together for the sake of the country's "democratic future", after both the far right and hard left made big gains in Germany's state elections on Sunday.
“Are the Nazis back in Germany?” “Back? They never left.” www.huffpost.com/entry/german... German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced a major electoral setback in two state elections including a historic defeat for his party.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU representatives held a press conference on Monday, September 21, after the party suffered its worst regional election defeat in postwar Germany. Merz called the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a “disaster”, as the CDU fell below the 5% threshold for entering the state parliament. Helmut Schmidt fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the US, Markus Zi
Germany’s far-right party, the AfD, won its second-straight state-level victory. Oliver Crook explains what that means Chancellor Merz. (Source: Bloomberg)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is standing by his vow to stay in office after his party suffered two more regional election defeats and was voted out of a state legislature in a humiliating first.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would remain in office and continue his economic and social reform program after the center-right Christian Democratic Union suffered its worst regional election result since the postwar period. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU won 4.9% and failed to clear the 5% threshold required for seats in the state parliament for the first time in modern Germ
The far-right AfD and the socialist Left Party have grown their vote in recent state elections, while the centrist parties see their support wane. The biggest loser is Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The far-right AfD and the socialist Left Party have grown their vote in recent state elections, while the centrist parties see their support wane. The biggest loser is Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Germany's far-right AfD and the socialist Left Party gained ground in recent state elections, while the centrist parties lost support. The biggest loser is Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will confront conservative lawmakers in Berlin on Tuesday after the Christian Democrats’ worst-ever state election result to find a way to salvage his reform agenda.
Germany: Chancellor Merz braces for difficult days ahead p.dw.com/p/5N0Xt?at_m... Germany's far-right AfD and the socialist Left Party gained ground in recent state elections, while the centrist parties lost support. The biggest loser is Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“German elections under way which could decide fate of Chancellor Merz” — Grade any article at RUSH Newstream https://beta.rushnewstream.com/article/c3505e765d430504 Local elections are taking place in two German states on Sunday which could increase the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Opinion polls in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommerm suggest Mer
"Any party in the governing coalition which suffers defeat sees its MPs, regional leaders and members demand a stronger profile at the expense of coalition partners, fuelling disagreement within government." 🇩🇪 Ed Turner on the recent state elections in Germany 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/with-every-e... Ed Turner reflects on the recent state elections in Germany that saw the far-right Alternative for Germ
BERLIN, Sept 23 - Chancellor Friedrich Merz may have survived the triumph of the far right in this month's state elections in eastern Germany and Berlin but the shock to his coalition could force him to water down his promised reform agenda.