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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejects resignation after state election defeat
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke at CDU headquarters after Sunday’s state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. Calling the CDU’s failure to cross the 5 percent threshold in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern a heavy blow, Merz said he would not step down.
Sunday’s state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin delivered a heavy defeat for the CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Following the results, Merz said he would not step down.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came first with 38.2 percent of the vote, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 35.5 percent. The CDU secured 4.9 percent and failed to cross the 5 percent electoral threshold, meaning it failed to enter the state parliament for the first time in its history.
In Berlin, the Left Party came first with 25.7 percent. The CDU received 18.8 percent, while the AfD won 16.3 percent.
Merz assesses the results
Speaking after a leadership meeting held at CDU headquarters in Berlin on Monday following the elections, Merz described the result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as a dramatic development unprecedented in the party’s history.
This is a heavy blow. However, the election results and the reasons behind them go far beyond me personally. We are witnessing a profound transformation of the political system in Germany and many other countries.
Merz said the results in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin pointed to the rise of far-right and left-wing populist parties. Describing the AfD and the Left Party as “destructive forces,” Merz said the CDU would analyze the election results in the coming days and draw the necessary lessons.
Emphasis on the coalition government
Merz thanked the federal coalition partner SPD for confirming that it would remain in government and said they wanted to advance the reform process. He said people were concerned about their jobs, families, retirement income and healthcare.
Merz said it was a historic task for the coalition government in Berlin and the political center to prepare the country for the coming years on these issues.
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