The Political situation in Germany

Merz not resigning despite disastrous election: "Requires backbone"

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will remain as leader of the center-right CDU party, despite the party losing ground in two key state elections on Sunday evening. He made the statement during a press conference, according to AFP.

"What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience," says Merz.

The statement follows speculation regarding Merz's resignation. After 16 months in the chancellorship, his approval ratings have dropped to around 10 percent.

Merz's party loses ground in key state election: "A disaster"

The far-right AfD party is making gains in the key state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. According to exit polls, the AfD is winning 37 percent of the vote, according to Reuters.

At the same time, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party has fallen to 5.5 percent—the worst result the party has ever recorded in a state election since 1949.

"We cannot sugarcoat the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is a disaster," he says during a press conference. 

Poll: Left Party pulls ahead in Berlin election

The German Left Party (Die Linke) is pulling ahead in the Berlin state election, according to exit polls by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, AFP reports.

The polls show Die Linke securing 24.5 percent and 26 percent of the vote, respectively, thereby overtaking Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right CDU—the party currently governing Berlin. The CDU is projected to receive 20 percent of the vote.

The pro-Russia and migration-critical AfD also made gains, winning 16 percent of the vote according to the polls.