Tuesday, Sep 22, 2026
1 Merz Stays German Chancellor After CDU Hits Post-WWII Low of 4.9% Vote↩︎ 🌍 World Sep 22, 5:20 AM EDT 103/33
Leadership within the CDU confirmed their backing for Friedrich Merz's continuation as chancellor on Monday following a series of regional election losses. The Christian Democratic Union won 4.9% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, missing the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament by about 1,000 votes. This failure to secure seats in a regional legislature is a first for the party since the end of World War II.
In Berlin, the far-left Die Linke party took first place with 25.7% of the vote, while the CDU trailed at 18.8%. The far-right Alternative for Germany led in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 38.1% of the vote. Merz called the overall results a "disaster" but vowed to push ahead with economic reforms while coalition talks begin in both regions.