Germany: Difficult days for Chancellor Merz
The far-right AfD and the socialist Left Party have grown their vote in recent state elections, while the centrist parties see their support wane. The biggest loser is Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Chancellor Merz faces challenging times as the CDU struggles in recent state elections. For the first time, the party failed to secure the necessary 5% of votes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while in Berlin, it suffered significant losses and may become an opposition party. Chancellor Merz acknowledged the election as a major turning point, marking a dramatic shift in Germany's party system.
He attributed the defeats partly to federal policy failures and dissatisfaction with his leadership. However, he also noted the rise of radical parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party, which attracted over 40% of the vote together. The AfD, classified as a right-wing extremist group, saw a substantial increase in support, particularly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin.
Meanwhile, the Left Party, which doubled its previous result in Berlin, is anticipated to form a coalition with other democratic parties. Despite the CDU's poor performance, Merz is expected to remain chancellor, but the party's defeat signals a significant challenge.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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