Germany's chancellor under pressure over failures

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing mounting pressure over his government's electoral and legislative failures, which may lead to his potential removal. His administration recently dropped a crucial tax proposal, while essential labor and pensions plans that are necessary for stimulating Germany's sluggish growth are also under scrutiny.

These setbacks stem from a series of poor election performances, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining significant support. Although Germany has a limited history of mid-term leadership changes, at least two European capitals have conducted internal simulations to assess the potential impact of Merz's departure, according to Politico.

Handelsblatt further characterizes him as a "pseudo-dead man," highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Brief written by urgent.news from Semafor's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.