Germany's Merz vows to stay course despite new election defeats

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to continue his leadership, despite recent electoral setbacks in two states to the far-right AfD and far-left Die Linke parties. Speaking at a crisis meeting in Berlin, Merz emphasized the need for resilience and patience in his approach. The AfD had a slim 37 percent lead in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while Die Linke triumphed in Berlin with 25 percent, trouncing the ruling CDU with 19 percent.

Merz, who called a crisis meeting in advance of the poor outcomes, vowed to push forward with reforms, acknowledging the erosion of trust in institutions due to radical parties from both sides. ING economist Carsten Brzeski interpreted Merz's televised address as a move to stifle speculation about his potential resignation. Die Linke's Elif Eralp celebrated the party's victory, calling for change on housing, immigration, and NATO policies.

The elections follow a previous setback for the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt, and Merz faces a low approval rating amid criticism for his blunt comments. Despite these challenges, CDU powerbrokers recently backed Merz, calling for national stability as Germany grapples with an increasingly divided political climate.