Politics
Merz vows to keep coalition together after CDU's double state-election defeat
September 21, 2026 at 02:28 PM · Updated 25d ago
Coverage
3 reports · 1 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 6 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
المستشار الألماني يتمسك بموقعه رغم الهزيمة الانتخابية التاريخية
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Merz vows to keep ruling coalition together for sake of Germany's 'democratic future'
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
German chancellor meets CDU leaders to shore up support after more defeats
(opens the publisher’s site)German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he will keep his ruling coalition together for Germany's "democratic future" after resounding defeats in two state elections.
- Merz vowed to keep the ruling CDU–SPD coalition together, saying the parties are determined to face Germany's "historic challenges."
- The far-right AfD won 38 percent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the CDU failed to reach the 5 percent threshold to enter the state parliament.
- In Berlin, the CDU finished second behind the hard-left Die Linke, with the AfD also making gains.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the AfD's victory reflected Germans seeking an alternative after Berlin refused cheap Russian gas.
- Merz vowed to remain party leader of the CDU despite what he called the unprecedented electoral defeat.
- The CDU's failure to enter the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania parliament was its first since 1945, polling 4.9%.
- Merz pledged to continue his program to revive Germany's stagnant economy, citing competition from China and energy costs linked to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.