Merz under pressure as two more German states go to the polls

Live updates

1. 4h ago

   Chancellor Merz vows to stay after CDU losses in state elections

   German Chancellor Friedrich Merz intends to remain in office despite describing regional election results in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a "disaster". His center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered heavy losses, most notably in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania where the party polled 4.9%. This result ejected the CDU from the state legislature for the first time in 77 years of the federal republic. Merz faces significant pressure as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to gain momentum across the country.

   Why it matters

   The CDU is a cornerstone of German political stability, and its failure to meet the 5% threshold in a regional parliament marks a historic low. These elections serve as a barometer for national sentiment regarding Merz's leadership and the rise of the far-right. The results threaten the stability of the current governing coalition.

   What is confirmed

   • Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the state election results a "disaster" for his party.
   • The CDU lost seats in regional elections held in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
   • The CDU polled 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, falling below the 5% threshold required to keep seats in the regional parliament.
   • This is the first time the CDU has been ejected from a state legislature in 77 years of the federal republic.
   • Friedrich Merz vowed to stay in office and push through reforms.
   • The far-right AfD has seen a surge in support during these elections.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The center-left SPD wants to stay in coalition with the CDU despite the losses.

   What to watch next

   • Internal CDU discussions regarding leadership changes following the losses.
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. CBS News — Germany's leader under huge pressure as far-right AfD gains steam, but could he be forced out?
   2. The Guardian — Future of German chancellor hangs in the balance as two states go to polls
   3. Reuters — Merz under pressure as two more German states go to the polls
   4. The New York Times — Germans Are Voting Again, Amid a Far-Right Surge. Here’s What to Watch.
   5. The Economist — Another electoral test for Friedrich Merz
   6. Al Jazeera — Two German states go to the polls after far-right gains
   7. Financial Times — German states go to the polls in high-stakes test for Friedrich Merz
   8. dw.com — Germany: Polls open in two key state elections
   9. WRAL — Merz faces key test as 2 German states hold elections with eyes on the far-right AfD
   10. BBC — German elections under way which could decide fate of Chancellor Merz
   11. Yahoo — Turnout jumps in north-east as Germans vote in two key state votes
   12. www.thenationalherald.com — Germany’s Merz Struggles to Stay on Track after Humiliating Regional Election Defeat
   confidence 95%