On the 21st, German Chancellor and CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz stated that, despite the party’s failure to clear the 5% threshold for representation in the state parliament in the parliamentary elections held on the 20th in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the CDU will continue to maintain its governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party.

File photo: German Chancellor and CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz. 

At a press conference that day, Merz said that the results of the recent state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were “dramatic and unprecedented” for the CDU. This is a “severe blow,” and its impact will persist for a long time.

Merkel stated that the CDU will continue to maintain the governing coalition with the SPD. Recent local election results have sent a “very clear signal” to both parties, as both are facing challenges in terms of public support. He will hold talks with the Social Democratic Party on how to continue their cooperation in the future, while the Christian Democratic Union will also engage in in-depth discussions regarding its own positioning and future direction.

The states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin held state parliamentary elections on the 20th. The CDU received only 4.9% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, failing to secure a seat in the state parliament for the first time since World War II. The party received 18.8% of the vote in Berlin, a significant decline from the previous election. Meanwhile, the Alternative for Germany party has won a state parliamentary election for the second time this month.

After the election projections were released, Merz delivered a speech on the evening of the 20th, stating, “This is a disaster.” He stated that the German economy is undergoing profound transformation, social tensions are increasingly acute, and public trust in state institutions is declining, with this trust being challenged by extremist political forces.

The German public broadcasting consortium stated that it is unusual for Merz to have made such a swift statement. This may be a preemptive measure taken to prevent calls for his resignation from growing even louder. On the 20th, Deutsche Welle reported that when Merz took office last May, he vowed to revive the sluggish economy and reduce the number of illegal immigrants, aiming to allay voters’ concerns and win them back from the Alternative for Germany party. However, the Alternative for Germany party currently leads in national polls, while Merz’s approval ratings are plummeting, with his personal support hovering just above 10%.

On the 20th, AfD member Thissen told AFP that Merz’s missteps and his failure to deliver on promised reforms—particularly stricter immigration controls—have fueled the party’s growing momentum across Germany. Tasen said, “Our state of Mei has already demonstrated a strength that the entire German society can no longer ignore.” The election results mark a turning point in Germany’s history.“