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Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters     (german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       The chancellor, Friedrich Merz, arriving for a CDU board meeting in Berlin after the state elections. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/germany) Germany     (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/analysis) Analysis   Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/deborah-cole) Deborah Cole in Berlin     Chancellor acknowledges disastrous state election results but vow to push on is likely to further alienate voters, and his own party (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/germany-chancellor-freidrich-merz-cdu-christian-democratic-union-state-election-defeats-mecklenburg-western-pomerania-berlin) German chancellor clinging to power after another loss to far-right AfD             Mon 21 Sep 2026 06.04 EDT  Last modified on Mon 21 Sep 2026 15.27 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows?CMP=share_btn_url) Share             Friedrich Merz called it a “disaster”, and that was even before the full scale of the catastrophe for himself and his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came into view after (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/friedrich-merz-chancellor-germany-state-elections-cdu-afd-linke-berlin) Sunday’s state elections . In what one outlet called a (https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-09/friedrich-merz-cdu-krise-landtagswahlen-bundeskanzler) “power move” , the German chancellor made a highly unusual televised speech just minutes after polls closed in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, attempting to get ahead of the narrative with a (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/friedrich-merz-chancellor-germany-state-elections-cdu-afd-linke-berlin) pledge to stay on and fight for his economic recovery programme .            (Rise of the far right in Germany: how worried should we be? – The Latest)     10:54                   Rise of the far right in Germany: how worried should we be? – The Latest     But as the results trickled in, it became apparent that the CDU had not only scored its worst-ever result in a state election, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it had crashed out of a regional parliament altogether for the first time in postwar history with just 4.9% of the vote in the region on the Baltic coast. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) came out on top for the third time in a German state, drawing 38% against 35.5% for the centre-left Social Democrats, Merz’s federal coalition partner.   (https://interactive.guim.co.uk/datawrapper/embed/ipsUs/6/) Bar graph of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state election results   Although the AfD has little chance of taking power because of a “firewall” of non-cooperation agreed by the other main parties, the anti-immigration, Kremlin-friendly party could celebrate a further success in destabilising the German political establishment. In Berlin, the CDU will almost certainly have to vacate city hall once the coalition negotiations wrap up after a stinging defeat to the leftwing Linke party, which is calling for the expropriation of corporate landlords to address a housing crisis.   (https://interactive.guim.co.uk/datawrapper/embed/zW31D/3/) Bar graph of Berlin state election results   Polls had been predicting the humiliating result for Merz’s conservatives, which came after a (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/why-far-right-afd-state-victory-significant-german-politics-germany-explainer) historic rout two weeks ago in the former communist state of Saxony-Anhalt , where the CDU scored just 17% to the AfD’s nearly 44%. But the cumulative effect of these losses, coupled with Merz’s dire approval ratings and a far right with clear momentum, can hardly be exaggerated. Despite his vow to stay the course, many regard the German leader to be on borrowed time. “Friedrich Merz is fighting for his political survival,” said the Berenberg bank’s chief economist, Holger Schmieding. “Although Merz has vowed to stay on as chancellor to spearhead the much needed pro-growth reforms, it will not be easy for him to contain the unrest within his party.” (german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows.html#EmailSignup-skip-link-12) skip past newsletter promotion     Free newsletter | Weekly    Sign up to This is Europe  The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment  ()   Enter your email  ()   Sign up      after newsletter promotion   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/german-chancellor-friedrich-merz-state-elections-berlin-far-right) Speculation was already rife after the Saxony-Anhalt race about a Kanzlertausch , or chancellor swap. But as long as (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/12/friedrich-merz-far-right-firewall-afd-germany-future) none of the potential successors appears ready to wield the dagger, and Merz remains unwilling to step aside, a volatile deadlock will reign. Merz, 70, gathered the CDU leadership at the party headquarters in Berlin to watch the exit polls together late on Sunday. Local media reported that (https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/mecklenburg-vorpommern-wahl-2026-im-liveblog--cdu-fliegt-aus-landtag--was-wird-aus-merz--38251086.html) some of those assembled loudly objected to the defiant, full-steam-ahead speech he planned to deliver regarding his programme, saying that it amounted to ignoring what voters were shouting from the rooftops with their choices. Merz (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/german-state-leaders-rally-behind-friedrich-merz-doubts-over-future-afd) cancelled a planned trip to New York this week to speak before the UN general assembly, already anticipating he would need to be in Berlin to grapple with the state elections’ aftermath. Now, more than ever, he will have his work cut out for him after just 16 months in office.         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/world/germany) Germany  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/friedrich-merz) Friedrich Merz  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/far-right) The far right  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) Europe  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/alternative-fur-deutschland-afd) Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/analysis) analysis    (mailto:?subject=Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fsep%2F21%2Fgerman-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows&type=article&internalpagecode=world/2026/sep/21/german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content                  More on this story                        More on this story                       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/germany-chancellor-freidrich-merz-cdu-christian-democratic-union-state-election-defeats-mecklenburg-western-pomerania-berlin)    ()      Chancellor vows to stay on for Germany’s ‘democratic future’ after latest loss to far-right AfD   (Monday, September 21, 2026 at 11:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 9h ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/21/merz-german-chancellor-state-elections-russia-ukraine-europe-live-latest-news)    ()      Germany’s Merz ‘grateful’ centre-left SPD wants to stay in coalition after CDU’s heavy losses – as it happened   (Monday, September 21, 2026 at 11:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 10h ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/friedrich-merz-chancellor-germany-state-elections-cdu-afd-linke-berlin)    ()      Friedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections   (Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 02:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 1d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/german-chancellor-friedrich-merz-state-elections-berlin-far-right)    ()      Future of German chancellor hangs in the balance as two states go to polls   (Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 2d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/19/germany-afd-banning-defend-democracy)    ()      double quotation mark   Here’s how Germany can defend its democracy. Banning the AfD isn’t the answer   (Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 3d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/german-state-leaders-rally-behind-friedrich-merz-doubts-over-future-afd)    ()      Merz cancels UN visit after AfD election win puts his leadership on the ropes   (Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 08:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 6d ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/09/friedrich-merz-afd-far-right-accused-seeking-ethnic-cleansing-saxony-anhalt-election)    ()      Merz accuses AfD of ‘ethnic cleansing’ policy and cancels call with Trump   (Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 09:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 9 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/09/i-fear-the-price-could-be-high-inside-the-german-state-where-the-far-right-surged)    ()      ‘I fear the price could be high’: Inside the German city where the far right surged   (Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 10:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 9 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/08/anti-afd-protests-germany-far-right-berlin-mecklenburg-western-pomerania)    ()      Anti-AfD protests sweep Germany as far right closes in on two more states   (Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 08:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 8 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/afd-germany-far-right-saxony-anhalt-nationalist-wave-europe-analysis)    ()      Europe’s centre fears nationalist wave after AfD victory but only has itself to blame   (Monday, September 7, 2026 at 12:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 7 Sept 2026                        Most viewed      Most viewed                                                               (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) Europe   (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/americas) Americas  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/asia) Asia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa) Africa  (https://www.theguardian.com/inequality) Inequality  (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) Global development       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (german-state-election-humiliation-friedrich-merz-borrowed-time-cdu-unrest-grows.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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