German chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting criticism ahead of September 20 regional elections
After its breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right AfD party is expected to continue its rise on September 20, according to polls. Voters are called to the polls in the city of Berlin and the region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Nearly half of Germans anticipate Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be replaced by the end of the year, as indicated by a YouGov poll. The survey of 1,611 adults revealed 48% of respondents believe Merz will no longer hold the position, while 31% expect him to continue in the role and 21% did not provide an answer. Merz's approval ratings have plummeted recently, and he faces a setback on Sunday as two eastern German states vote, following the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's significant victory in Saxony-Anhalt.
In Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote and Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) dropped to 17%, there are growing doubts about whether the chancellor will have to resign. Recent polls suggest the CDU is at around 7% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a result dangerously close to the 5% threshold required to win seats in parliament.
If accurate, this would represent the CDU's worst performance in any German state or nationally since World War II. In Berlin, The Left party is narrowly leading the CDU, putting the conservatives at risk of losing control of the city's mayor's office. Merz has attempted to quell speculation about his future, insisting after the Saxony-Anhalt election, "giving up is not an option for me."
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- Nearly half of Germans expect Chancellor Merz to be replaced by end of year ghanabusinessnews.com
