German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has affirmed his intention to remain in office and maintain his reform agenda despite a series of significant electoral setbacks that have rattled his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and raised questions about the future of his leadership.
In regional elections held on September 21, the CDU was ejected from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state parliament for the first time since the party’s founding in 1945, falling below the 5% threshold required to secure seats. The party lost more than half of its support in the northeastern state, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the strongest party with 38.5% of the vote. This followed a similar trend seen two weeks prior in Saxony-Anhalt, another eastern state, where the AfD won nearly 44% of the vote.
The CDU also suffered losses in Berlin, dropping to second place behind the left-wing Left Party, which is poised to lead the city’s next government in coalition with the Greens and Social Democrats. While Merz’s party could retain influence depending on coalition negotiations, the election results underscored the CDU’s dwindling appeal in Germany’s capital, which traditionally leans left.
Merz described the election outcomes, particularly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as a “disaster” but stressed his commitment to govern with “backbone, steadfastness, and patience.” He warned that these results reflect broader shifts within Germany’s political landscape, emphasizing the need to safeguard the country's democratic future amid “profound changes” he said were challenging the established political parties.
The chancellor acknowledged widespread dissatisfaction with his government’s proposed reforms to Germany’s pension system, healthcare, and bureaucracy, which aim to address the country’s slow economic growth but have sparked controversy. In particular, plans to abolish early retirement at age 63 have met resistance from both voters and coalition partners. Merz conceded that the reforms did not yet have sufficient public support and that the government owes the population “answers to their concerns and fears.”
Despite the losses, there were no immediate calls from senior CDU figures or coalition partners within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for Merz to resign. CDU deputy chairman Karl-Josef Laumann expressed full support for the chancellor, while other party members acknowledged the need to recalibrate the party’s messaging and policy approach. The SPD, which leads the coalition alongside Merz’s CDU, has indicated a willingness to reconsider parts of the reform agenda, advocating for fairness and greater public backing.
Far-right AfD leaders, emboldened by their electoral successes, projected that Merz would not complete the year in office and suggested they could play a larger role in German politics going forward. AfD joint leader Alice Weidel proposed cross-party talks to address what the party describes as a national crisis, including plans to negotiate with Russia and the United States over energy issues. However, mainstream parties have largely rejected cooperation with the AfD, citing fundamental disagreements with its platform.
Looking ahead, Germany faces five state elections in 2027, including a crucial vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, led by CDU politician Hendrik Wüst, who is seen by some as a possible successor to Merz. For now, Merz remains in place, signaling that he intends to weather the political storm and press on with reforms, while recognizing the challenges posed by the shifting political ground and rising influence of both the far right and far left.