{
  "id": 7734496,
  "title": "Schlechte Umfragewerte: Frei: Merz auch nach Landtagswahlen unumstößlich Kanzler",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/schlechte-umfragewerte-frei-merz-auch-nach-landtagswahlen-unumsto",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-16T07:12:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/schlechte-umfragewerte-frei-merz-auch-nach-landtagswahlen-unumstoesslich-kanzler/100254909.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Berlin: Union faction leader Thorsten Frei has dismissed concerns over the backing of Chancellor Friedrich Merz within his own party. Days before the elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, Frei expressed certainty in RTL's \"Early Start\" program that Merz would remain unchallenged as faction and government leader. The faction supports Merz. However, Frei acknowledged that weak poll figures and recent election results would have consequences for the mood within the party and faction, \"I don't want to deny that at all,\" he stated as a CDU politician. The key is to continue with reforms. That Merz will not travel to the UN General Assembly in New York the following week was regarded as appropriate by Frei. There are \"plenty of tasks\" in Germany, such as in healthcare, pension, care policy and the budget. The debate over the chancellor's person reflects a shaken state - internally due to election and poll outcomes. Success in turning the economy around would also resolve many other issues, \"undoubtedly\" including the discussion surrounding Merz.",
  "summary": "Die Umfragen sind schlecht, die Stimmung angespannt. Unionsfraktionschef Frei stellt sich dennoch klar hinter Kanzler Merz – und verweist auf ein Thema, das aus seiner Sicht alles entscheidet.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Landtagswahlen: Merz beruft Sitzung der CDU-Spitze am Wahlabend ein",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/landtagswahlen-merz-beruft-sitzung-der-cdu-spitze-am-wahlabend-ein",
        "published": "2026-09-15T10:36:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}