Merz Vows to Hold Coalition After CDU Falls Below 5% in Mecklenburg
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21
Merz Vows to Hold Coalition After CDU Falls Below 5% in Mecklenburg
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 21
Summary
Friedrich Merz said on Monday he would keep Germany’s coalition government intact, rejecting speculation over his future after three heavy CDU defeats this month.
38% for AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania deepened the crisis, pushing the CDU out of the state parliament after it failed to clear the 5% threshold and lost voters to both AfD and the SPD.
Berlin added to the pressure as the CDU slipped to second behind Linke, while AfD leaders said Merz would be out within months and targeted the 2029 federal election.
SPD coalition partners backed keeping the government together but demanded changes to Merz’s reform agenda, saying pension, tax and bureaucracy plans need broader public support amid economic weakness.