NewsBabel NewsBabel

Global headlines in real time

← Back to Direct feed

Chancellor vows to stay on for Germany’s ‘democratic future’ after latest loss to far-right AfD

21 Sep 2026, 15:38 GMT By Kate Connolly in Berlin
Download metadata bundle
The Guardian logo
Photo Chancellor vows to stay on for Germany’s ‘democratic future’ after latest loss to far-right AfD
Credit: Kate Connolly in Berlin

Merz seeks to shore up support after CDU loses two state elections and is ejected from Mecklenburg parliament Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows Germany’s beleaguered leader, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to keep his fractious coalition government together for the good of the country’s “democratic future” after his conservative party suffered a drubbing at the polls in two state elections. Merz, who has vowed to plough ahead with an unpopular reform agenda, dismissed speculation over his position, saying it was vital that he and his coalition government remained in place. Continue reading...