AI-written summary synthesised from 6 independent reports, listed below. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the originals.
ABSTRACT

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, that he intends to remain in office and to continue with his government's reform programme after his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered heavy losses in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Exit polls and projections by public broadcaster ARD indicated the CDU won about 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania — described by CBS, CBC, NPR and PBS as the party's lowest result in any state since World War II — while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains in both states. Merz called the outcome a "disaster" and said the country's economic and political problems made difficult reforms more urgent rather than less. In Berlin, ARD projections put the CDU second behind Die Linke (The Left Party). The elections followed the AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, where it has what several outlets describe as its best chance yet of forming Germany's first far-right regional government since World War II.

CBS News

Merz says he will stay as chancellor after CDU's historic defeats in two German state elections

Sep 20, 2026, 2:26 PM

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, that he intends to remain in office and to continue with his government's reform programme after his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered heavy losses in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Exit polls and projections by public broadcaster ARD indicated the CDU won about 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania — described by CBS, CBC, NPR and PBS as the party's lowest result in any state since World War II — while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains in both states. Merz called the outcome a "disaster" and said the country's economic and political problems made difficult reforms more urgent rather than less. In Berlin, ARD projections put the CDU second behind Die Linke (The Left Party). The elections followed the AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, where it has what several outlets describe as its best chance yet of forming Germany's first far-right regional government since World War II.

Context

Merz, 70, became chancellor 16 months ago promising to revive an economy that had barely grown for years, according to CBS, CBC, NPR and PBS. The same outlets report that he has become deeply unpopular; CBS and PBS note that more than 3 million people were unemployed in August, an increase of 36,000 from the previous year, with weak demand for labour according to the Federal Employment Agency.

In the past two weeks there were calls, including from within his own party, for Merz to be replaced as chancellor, although no top-level allies publicly called for his departure and many warned against "personnel debates," according to CBS, CBC, NPR and PBS. BBC reported that the leaders of eight German states backed Merz earlier in the week, saying restoring trust in the CDU depended on "listening and taking political action, not in debates over personnel." According to CBS and the other outlets carrying the AP report, Merz cancelled a planned trip to New York next week to attend the U.N. General Assembly, apparently anticipating a difficult post-election period. He has repeatedly said he is determined to stay on and finish his term.

PBS reported that the government's reforms include income tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, an overhaul of the pension system and a reduction of bureaucracy. Merz said his reforms would be "the antidote to the poison of authoritarianism, which is penetrating ever deeper into our society as the fascination with authoritarianism grows," in what CBS and PBS described as an apparent reference to the far-right party.

According to CBS and PBS, the AfD was nowhere close to being able to form a regional government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. BBC reported that the AfD's anti-immigration, Russia-friendly, Germany-first agenda has found traction in the country's formerly communist east, and that some AfD branches are classified as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence, a designation the party strongly rejects.

BBC reported that the centre-left SPD, in a national coalition with Merz's CDU, was in contention for first place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania through its lead candidate Manuela Schwesig, the state premier, who has presented herself as the "Woman against Blue" — the AfD's party colour. France 24 described the results as a warning for Merz after just 16 months in office, and noted that in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the AfD was projected to finish narrowly ahead of the Social Democrats.

CBS, CBC, NPR and PBS reported that the CDU's defeat in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6 shocked many Germans who believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting its Nazi past through education and laws against persecution. BBC, writing as voting was under way, reported speculation that Merz could be replaced mid-term unless the CDU's fortunes improved.

All Perspectives
Friedrich Merz, chancellor and CDU chairman: Merz acknowledged the CDU's result as a "disaster" but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government's reform agenda and arguing that Germany's economic and political problems made difficult and potentially unpopular reforms more urgent. "What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness, and patience," he said shortly after the exit polls were announced on public television. "I will demonstrate these qualities as chairman of the CDU and, above all, as chancellor of our country." He said his reforms would be "the antidote to the poison of authoritarianism, which is penetrating ever deeper into our society as the fascination with authoritarianism grows," and has repeatedly said he is determined to stay on and finish his term.
AfD national co-leader Tino Chrupalla: Chrupalla told ZDF television, according to CBS, that "the chancellor's statement today really was more than feeble — he announced that he'd carry on as before, instead of finally drawing the consequences and resigning."
AfD national co-leader Alice Weidel: Weidel said on ZDF television, according to PBS, that "we have displaced the CDU as the people's party," adding that "we have a great deal to offer our voters, namely political change in this country." BBC reported that the AfD strongly rejects the domestic intelligence classification of some of its branches as right-wing extremist.
Elif Eralp, Die Linke lead candidate in Berlin: Eralp, described by CBS as the daughter of Turkish migrants, celebrated her party's projected first place ahead of the AfD, saying: "In our city, love and justice have triumphed over hatred."
Manuela Schwesig, SPD lead candidate in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: BBC reported that Schwesig, the state premier, is trying to gather the anti-AfD vote by presenting herself as the "Die Frau gegen Blau" — "Woman against Blue," the AfD's party colours — and that her local popularity contrasts with the weaker standing of her national party, which is in coalition with Merz's CDU.
Philipp Amthor, CDU figure and chancellery official: Amthor, a prominent CDU figure from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania who now manages federal-state relations at the chancellery, said on Sunday night that one problem in the campaign had been "the difficult personnel discussions" of recent weeks, an apparent reference to speculation about Merz, adding that "it is good and right for these personnel discussions not to be continued now," according to PBS.
CDU supporters and backers: BBC reported that Merz's backers argue he has had a tough time with global events and that many of the nation's problems are inherited, and that supporters would argue he is ready to administer the medicine the country needs even if people dislike its taste.
Martin Rohloff, CDU candidate for Neubrandenburg: Rohloff said, according to BBC, that Merz does not have the "Fingerspitzengefühl, the feeling for the small persons."
AfD supporter Reinhart: BBC quoted an AfD supporter in a queue for a campaign event in Neubrandenburg, identified as Reinhart, saying the traditional parties are being washed away "not only in Germany. In Italy, in France, in Great Britain. Everywhere the traditional parties go down," and saying of Merz that "he is arrogant, out of touch, not on the same level as the general public."
Leaders of eight German states: BBC reported that the leaders of eight German states backed Merz earlier in the week and said restoring trust in the CDU lay in "listening and taking political action, not in debates over personnel."

Where sources differ

  • The projected CDU share in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was reported as 5% by CBS, CBC and NPR, but as 4.9% by PBS, which said the projection was based on exit polls and partial counting for ARD television and noted that staying below 5% in the final count would mean the CDU fails to win seats in a state legislature for the first time.
  • Berlin projections differ: CBS, CBC and NPR reported the CDU at 20%, Die Linke at 24.5% and the AfD at 15.7%, according to ARD; PBS reported the CDU at 19.1%, Die Linke at 25.3% and the AfD at 16.2%, according to ARD.
  • The AfD's projected share in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was given as 37% by CBS and 37.9% by PBS. France 24 reported the AfD as projected to finish first, narrowly ahead of the Social Democrats, while BBC reported that the SPD had staged a late comeback to be in contention for the top spot.
  • Outlets describe the AfD differently: CBS calls it 'far-right, anti-immigration', while CBC, NPR and PBS describe it as 'anti-migration, Russia-friendly'. BBC adds that domestic intelligence classifies some AfD branches as right-wing extremist, a designation the party rejects.
  • Different AfD national co-leaders are quoted from ZDF television: CBS quotes Tino Chrupalla, who said Merz's statement was 'more than feeble' and that he should have drawn the consequences and resigned; PBS quotes Alice Weidel, who said the AfD had 'displaced the CDU as the people's party'. Neither outlet reported the other's remarks.
  • BBC frames the event as elections taking place with opinion polls suggesting possible defeats, and cites German news site Tagesschau on speculation about a 'chancellor swap'; the other sources report exit-poll results as outcomes after voting closed.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • None of the sources gives final certified results, turnout figures, or the distribution of seats in either state legislature; the numbers cited are exit polls or projections based on exit polls and partial counting.
  • No source establishes which coalitions can actually be formed in Berlin or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, or whether the AfD's projected first place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will translate into any governing role.
  • None of the sources names any CDU figure who would replace Merz, or confirms whether a formal challenge to his leadership has been or will be mounted; the reported calls for his replacement are not attributed to named individuals.
  • No source reports a response from Merz or the CDU to the resignation call attributed to AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla, nor any AfD response to Merz's "poison of authoritarianism" remark.
  • No source establishes the detail or timetable of the reforms beyond PBS's list of income tax cuts, pension overhaul and bureaucracy reduction.
  • Die Linke's position on national-level implications of its Berlin result, and any national SPD leadership comment, are not reported in the supplied sources.
  • No source provides unemployment or economic data beyond the August figures cited by CBS and PBS, nor independent verification of the claim that the CDU result is its worst in any state since World War II beyond its attribution to the outlets.
  • The identity and number of the eight state leaders backing Merz is not specified by BBC.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. CBS News — original
  2. CBC News
  3. France 24 — by Clémence WALLER
  4. NPR News — by The Associated Press
  5. PBS NewsHour — by Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press
  6. BBC News — by Jessica Parker

Read the original at CBS News

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