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German Chancellor Merz Vows to Stay Despite Election Defeats
Confirmed
In Short: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to stay in office despite exit polls showing damaging defeats for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in two state elections.
Merz acknowledged the results as a 'disaster' but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government’s reform agenda. 'What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience,' Merz said in a statement shortly after the exit polls were announced on public television.
Merz, who has only held the post for 16 months, faces mounting pressure with poor approval ratings and rumors of a potential mid-term replacement.
Despite acknowledging the result as a 'disaster,' Merz vowed to continue with potentially painful economic reforms. 'I will demonstrate these qualities as chairman of the CDU and, above all, as Chancellor of our country,' he said.
The strong showing of AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election has further weakened the chancellor's standing on the national level, as the AfD's classification as a far-right party has not stopped members of Israel’s government from considering it a potential political partner.
Merz's authority was already damaged by CDU's stinging defeat to AfD in the September election in Saxony-Anhalt, which shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority.
The turnout for the state elections was about 76%, significantly higher than is typical for German state elections, indicating a high level of voter engagement.
Background
A disaster is an event that causes such serious harm to people, buildings, economies, or the environment that the affected community cannot manage without external assistance or relief.
What's confirmed
- “What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience," Merz said in a statement shortly after the exit polls were announced on public television.
- Despite the strong headwinds, he has repeatedly said that he’s determined to stay on and finish his term as chancellor.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a major electoral setback in two state elections, including a historic defeat for his party.
- The anti-migration Alternative for Germany party made significant gains.
- Merz acknowledged his party's result as a “disaster” but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government’s reform agenda.
What's still developing
- Prior to Sunday's elections, there had been intense speculation in Germany that Merz could be replaced unless his party's political fortunes improved.
- Exit polls show Merz's Christian Democratic Union received just 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its lowest result since World War II.
- Social Democratic Party Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the party's top candidate for the upcoming state election Manuela Schwesig poses in front of an election campaign poster reading "The Woman Against Blue", in Schwerin, Germany, Monday, Sept.
- Merz, 70, became Germany’s leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years, but has failed to lift a sullen national mood and has himself become deeply unpopular.
- Chikli said that, “surprisingly”, the AfD had led efforts to challenge German support for organisations critical of Israel.
- Germany’s far-right and avowedly pro- Israel Alternative for Germany (AfD) has swept the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, bringing the party within reach of governing a German state for the first time since the end of the Nazi period.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union trailed far behind on 18.5 percent.
- German Chancellor Merz vows to press ahead with reforms after calling CDU’s historic state election defeat a 'disaster.' BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Merz vows to press ahead with reforms after calling CDU’s historic state election defeat a 'disaster.' Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a regional election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday was a "disaster" for his party, vowing to accelerate reforms as CDU party leader and chancellor to bring Germany forward.