Merz vows to keep Germany’s coalition together

The update

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to keep his coalition government intact, framing the move as essential for the country’s “democratic future.” His declaration follows a resounding defeat for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in two state elections on Sunday.

In the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured the most votes, with the CDU failing to clear the 5% threshold needed to retain a seat in the state parliament. In Berlin, the CDU placed second behind the hard-left Die Linke party, which is on track to lead the next city-state government.

Why it matters

The election results mark a significant political shift for the CDU, a traditional governing party. The party has suffered three major setbacks this month, including a halving of its vote share in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD’s strong performance signals growing public discontent with the current political establishment.

What to watch

Merz has pushed back against speculation that he will resign, stating that the reasons for the results go beyond his personal popularity. However, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has predicted he will leave office soon. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the coalition can survive the political turmoil and what impact the far-right gains will have on the next federal election.

Sources

• bbc.co.uk — Merz's vow to keep coalition, election results in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, AfD gains.
• theguardian.com — CDU's 'drubbing' at the polls, AfD's victory in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Die Linke's performance in Berlin.