German elections under way which could decide fate of Chancellor Merz
· World · BBC News
Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting political pressure as his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party struggles in state elections held in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Polls suggest the CDU may lose power in Berlin and could record its worst-ever result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where it is barely meeting the 5% threshold for parliamentary entry. These setbacks follow a significant recent victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU saw its vote share halved. Speculation regarding a potential mid-term leadership change has emerged, though challengers have not yet moved to replace Merz. The chancellor has stated he intends to remain in his position despite low approval ratings.
Why it matters
The potential collapse of CDU support in key German states threatens the stability of the current coalition government and the future of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership. These electoral shifts signal a broader rise in support for the AfD, which could force a significant realignment in German national politics.
Read the original report — BBC News
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