Merz's Party Suffers Major Setback in Two German State Elections

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted on Sunday that he has no intention of stepping down, even as his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party suffered heavy losses in two state elections.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, early projections suggested the CDU would narrowly clear the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation, marking its worst-ever result there. Hours later, however, it became clear the party had actually fallen short of that threshold entirely. Merz described the outcome as "a disaster" for his party.

Public broadcasters ZDF and ARD reported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading in the state with around 38% of the vote, followed by the centre-left SPD on 36%. Despite the strong showing, the AfD is unlikely to enter government, as other parties have refused to work with it.

In Berlin, the CDU also struggled, drawing around 20% support and trailing Die Linke (The Left), which posted its best-ever result in the capital at nearly 26% — a first for the party there. The AfD also gained ground in Berlin, projected at around 16%.

Merz, who has been chancellor for only 16 months, has faced mounting pressure amid weak approval ratings and speculation that he could be replaced before his term ends. Sunday's results followed a defeat two weeks earlier in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU's vote share was halved as the AfD scored a major win.

Despite the setbacks, Merz pledged to push ahead with his coalition government's planned economic, tax and welfare reforms, arguing they are essential for the country's progress. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said her party had become the strongest political force in the country. Ahead of Sunday's vote, leaders from eight German states had publicly backed Merz.