{
  "id": 7300323,
  "title": "Kanzler in der Krise: Wie Friedrich Merz seinen Machtverfall stoppen will",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/kanzler-in-der-krise-wie-friedrich-merz-seinen-machtverfall-stoppen",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-14T10:27:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/kanzler-in-der-krise-wie-friedrich-merz-seinen-machtverfall-stoppen-will-01/100253811.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Dortmund and Rovaniemi - As the outgoing Chancellor prepares for his final major foreign trip, colleagues have expressed appreciation for his efforts to strengthen NATO and foster a united Europe. In June, European leaders met in Berlin's Chancellor's office to prepare for the NATO summit in Ankara. Current Chancellor Friedrich Merz, serving in his capacity as Foreign Secretary and de facto leader of European policymakers, commended outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had to step down following an internal party revolt. Three months later, Merz finds himself in a similar predicament as Starmer. After a defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU lost ground to the right-wing AfD, support for the Chancellor is rapidly eroding. If the trend continues, Merz could be forced to resign soon. In his most challenging crisis as Chancellor, Merz has resolved to maintain a semblance of normalcy. In casual attire, he hurriedly exited the Dortmund Airport tarmac on Sunday afternoon, embarking on a brief weekend getaway to the Sauerland region in his home state, before heading to a summit on European Arctic policy in Rovaniemi, located within the Arctic Circle.",
  "summary": "Der Kanzler reist nach Finnland, doch die innenpolitische Krise begleitet ihn. Könnte seine Amtszeit nach nur 16 Monaten enden? Merz kämpft um seine Macht. Und feilt an einer Strategie.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Interview: \"Friedrich Merz is currently learning three things the hard way\"",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/interview-friedrich-merz-lernt-gerade-auf-die-schmerzhafte-tour-drei",
        "published": "2026-09-11T17:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}