Germany's Merz vows to hold ruling coalition together after election gains by far right, hard left

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced mounting pressure on Monday following significant election defeats in regional elections. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party came in first place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the far-left Die Linke party won in Berlin. The AfD also made strong gains in Saxony-Anhalt state. Speculation is already rife about Merz's future with the AfD, which has been consistently ahead of mainstream parties in nationwide surveys, recording its biggest electoral triumph yet.

Merz, who has been unpopular since his 16-month tenure, is said to be on track to be out of power within months according to the AfD. In an attempt to regain control, the 70-year-old chancellor addressed the nation on TV shortly after the first exit polls were announced. He admitted that his CDU suffered a "disaster" in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania but vowed to continue with reforms and govern with determination.

Analysts believe Merz's early move is part of a defensive strategy to shape the narrative and prevent a personnel debate from gaining steam. The chancellor has also canceled his schedule to address potential aftershocks from the votes, including skipping the UN General Assembly in New York. Merz's personal approval ratings are hovering around 10%, and his reforms have been moving slowly.

The election results have caused further tension between the CDU and their junior coalition partners, the SPD. While the SPD has pledged to remain in the coalition, they have hinted at reopening talks on social and economic reforms. Merz has been under pressure for weeks to resign, with potential contenders for the top job, such as Hendrik Wuest and Markus Soeder, yet to make any moves due to fear of backfiring or the difficult task of reviving the conservatives' fortunes during a crisis.