Escalation: Merz Stands Firm After Historic Election Losses
Friedrich Merz said he will stay on as chancellor and as CDU leader after his party’s defeats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin. He made the pledge minutes after polls closed Sunday night, remaining in Berlin instead of flying to the United Nations General Assembly. He said he would press ahead with his reform plans.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the CDU fell below the 5% threshold and lost all seats in the state parliament, a first for the party. The far-right AfD posted fresh wins as the CDU suffered its second and third heavy losses this month. Merz’s vow means the government’s course does not change despite the setbacks.
Synthesized from 18 sources
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