Support for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plunged following his CDU's losses to the far-right AfD and the Left party in three state elections. Stalled reforms and low approval ratings are compounding the pressure on his leadership.

The AfD finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after winning 44% in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks earlier. The CDU took just 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its worst state election result in postwar Germany, losing all its seats after missing the 5% threshold. In Berlin, the Left won 25.7% against the CDU's 18.8%.

Merz has refused to resign and pledged to continue economic reforms. He secured CDU leaders' backing to remain chancellor on Sept. 21 and vowed to keep his ruling coalition together for Germany's "democratic future."