Merz vows to stay on as German chancellor after CDU 'disaster' in state elections

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to remain in office and press ahead with his government's reform agenda after his Christian Democratic Union suffered heavy defeats in two state elections on Sunday, results he described as a "disaster."

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU fell below the 5 percent threshold needed to enter the state parliament, according to preliminary results cited by The Guardian, marking the party's worst-ever state score. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was projected to win about 38 percent of the vote there, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats.

In Berlin, the far-left Die Linke was on course to finish first with roughly 25 percent, ahead of the CDU's approximately 19 percent, according to exit polls published by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

Speaking at the CDU's Berlin headquarters on Sunday evening, Merz acknowledged the results as a "disaster" but insisted he would not step aside. "The reforms have to come," he said. "I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward."

Merz linked the reforms directly to the fight against political extremism. "What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness and patience," he said. "I will demonstrate this as CDU party chairman and, above all, as chancellor of our country." He added: "I would even go so far as to say that these reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian poison that, with the fascination of authoritarianism, is penetrating ever deeper into our society."

The defeats follow a damaging loss two weeks earlier in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU's vote was halved and the AfD won a major victory. Sunday's results were the third time the AfD has emerged as the strongest party in a German state, though it is unlikely to govern because other parties refuse to work with it.

Merz has faced months of speculation about a possible mid-term replacement, with some in his own party calling for a so-called chancellor swap. Eight CDU state premiers issued a joint statement earlier in the week backing stability but stopped short of a personal endorsement of Merz.

The chancellor's personal approval ratings have fallen to around 10 percent, according to recent polling cited by The Guardian and AFP. He took office in May 2025 at the head of a coalition with the Social Democrats, promising to revive the economy and reduce support for the AfD.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel welcomed Sunday's results. "We are the strongest force and have reached the mainstream of the population," she said.

Merz's decision to stay on is likely to face further tests in the coming weeks, as the CDU grapples with its worst state-level results since the Second World War.