German Chancellor Merz Faces Declining Support Amid Regional Election Setbacks

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government is under pressure after his centre-right CDU suffered defeats in recent regional elections. The party lost first place in Berlin, fell behind in Saxony-Anhalt and failed to win any seats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Despite the setbacks, no senior CDU member has publicly called for a change in leadership, although rumours of a possible chancellor replacement persist.

CDU foreign-policy spokesperson Jürgen Hardt told parliament that Merz is aware of his shortcomings and that the party will work to regain public confidence. "I think Friedrich Merz knows about his deficits," Hardt said, adding that the party aims to convince voters in the coming months that it is on the right track.

Economic institutes have recently raised Germany's growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 to just above 1%, and illegal border crossings have declined year on year. The public debate on immigration is shifting toward concerns about safety, welfare costs and integration.

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) continues to rise in the polls, now around 28% nationally, and claimed a victory in the recent Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state election. Domestic intelligence agencies classify some regional AfD branches as right-wing extremist, and security officials have expressed alarm over the party's perceived alignment with Russia.

Analysts note that the election results highlight a weakening of support for Germany's political centre and an increasingly polarised political landscape.