# Germany: Difficult days for Chancellor Merz

https://mins.news/en/item/68485

- DW, 2026-09-22 07:28 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-difficult-days-for-chancellor-merz/a-79365325?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

> The far-right AfD and the Left Party gained ground in two recent state elections, while centrist parties lost support. The CDU failed to clear the 5% threshold for the first time in a state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and suffered heavy losses in Berlin. Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that unpopular federal policies contributed to the defeats and described the results as a profound turning point for Germany’s party system.

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