German Chancellor Merz Vows to Maintain Coalition After State Election Defeats

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to keep his ruling coalition together following resounding electoral defeats for his Christian Democratic Union party in two state elections on Sunday.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the far-right Alternative for Germany party won the most votes while the CDU failed to reach the five percent threshold required to enter the state parliament.

Merz described the state results as a heavy blow and a profound turning point for the centre-right party, while rejecting rumours about his immediate political future.