CDU fails to enter a state parliament in Germany for the first time: Merz will not resign

The Christian Democratic Union of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has failed for the first time in history to enter the parliament of a federal state. In the election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU received only 4.9% of the vote and did not overcome the five percent hurdle. Merz himself called the party's result a "catastrophe", but stated that he does not intend to leave the post of chancellor.

According to the preliminary official results of the election on September 20, the "Alternative for Germany" took first place in the state with 38.2%. The ruling Social Democratic Party in the region received 35.5%, the Left Party 6.5%, the "Greens" 5.7%. The CDU, with 4.9%, remained outside the new composition of the Landtag.

For the Christian Democrats, this is the worst result in state elections in Germany since 1949. In the previous election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2021, the party received 13.3%, while the AfD result was 16.7%. Thus, in five years, support for the CDU has more than halved, and for the AfD it has more than doubled.

Unsuccessful for the CDU were also the elections to the Berlin House of Representatives, which took place on the same day. There, the Left Party won with 25.7% of the vote, while the CDU took second place with 18.8%. In the previous 2023 election, the Christian Democrats had 28.2%. The AfD this time received 16.3% and became third.

Despite the results of both elections, Merz stated that he would remain chancellor and CDU leader and continue the economic, tax and social reforms planned by the government. As reported by the BBC, the chancellor stressed that he does not intend to abandon this course and considers carrying out the reforms necessary.

The defeat in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was the second serious blow for the CDU in state elections within two weeks. Before that, the party significantly lost support in Saxony-Anhalt. On the eve of the voting in Mecklenburg, there were already discussions in Germany about Merz's political future, but the leaders of eight CDU states publicly expressed support for him.

Sources: NDR, Tagesschau, BBC