German Chancellor Merz vows to stay in office, push reforms despite election shock

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to stay in office and press ahead with reforms after his conservative Christian Democratic Union suffered a crushing defeat in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Speaking at CDU headquarters in Berlin shortly after projections by public broadcaster ARD, Merz acknowledged heavy losses but pushed back against speculation that he would step down as party leader and chancellor.

Preliminary results indicated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union tallied just 4.9% in the coastal region, falling below the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament. This marked the lowest score recorded by the party in any state election since the Second World War. Merz described the outcome as a disaster, admitting that the party had been ground down by the intense polarization between the Social Democratic Party and the Alternative for Germany.

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The anti-immigration, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany party extended a streak of strong showings by coming in first in the former communist region with nearly 38% of the vote, more than doubling its previous score. According to projections, the AfD secured 37.3% or 38.3% in the northeastern state, placing it just ahead of the center-left SPD at 35.5%. In the capital, Berlin, the ruling CDU was projected to finish second with around 19% to 20% of the vote, trailing behind the far-left Die Linke, which was on course to win with about 24.5% to 26% of the vote. The AfD also made headway in Berlin, achieving a clear double-digit result of around 15.7% to 16%. In Berlin, Die Linke's lead candidate, Elif Eralp, celebrated the party's triumph, with potential to become the capital's first leader of Turkish origin.

State	CDU %	AfD %	SPD / Die Linke %
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	4.9%	37.3% – 38.3%	35.5% (SPD)
Berlin	19% – 20%	15.7% – 16%	24.5% – 26% (Die Linke)

Merz, 70, took office 16 months ago at the helm of a coalition with the SPD, promising to restore the German economy to strength and slash the AfD's support. His authority had already been damaged by a stinging defeat to the AfD in the September 6 election in the small eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD secured a record 44%. That earlier outcome shocked many Germans who believed the country had built resilience against nationalism and ideas of racial superiority through post-war education and anti-persecution legislation. Merz admitted the CDU had been bitterly deprived of tailwinds from Berlin in both of Sunday's races, noting that the German economy is facing profound upheaval while public discourse has become harsher and more irreconcilable.

Despite deep unpopularity and calls for his resignation from figures such as AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla—who declared that the AfD had displaced the CDU as the people's party—Merz insisted that Germany needs serious reforms. He argued that his coalition government had already undertaken serious efforts regarding taxes, healthcare, pensions, and reducing bureaucracy, and that economic and political troubles make difficult measures more urgent.

"What now needs to be done requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience. I will demonstrate these qualities as chairman of the CDU and, above all, as chancellor of our country,"

Friedrich Merz, Chancellor, via ARD and news agencies

Merz added that these reforms serve as an antidote to the poison of authoritarianism penetrating society.

The AfD's strong performance marks the third time the party has emerged as the strongest regional force, though it will likely remain shut out of power due to a firewall of non-cooperation agreed upon by the other main parties. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Social Democratic state premier Manuela Schwesig was expected to hold on to power in a left-leaning coalition. Meanwhile, the political fallout has intensified pressure on Merz, who abandoned a scheduled trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. While senior allies and state premiers have warned against personnel debates and backed the chancellor to complete his four-year term, analysts warn that a premature resignation could give the far right further momentum as France, Italy, Spain, and Poland head into elections next year. Final results are expected as vote counts conclude, setting the stage for ongoing coalition maneuvers and federal stability tests.