German Chancellor Merz commits to staying after state election losses

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on September 20, 2026 that he will stay in his job, despite heavy losses in two state elections held that day. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right AfD won around 38% of the vote, and Merz's CDU party barely kept its seats. Merz called this result a "disaster". In Berlin, the CDU came second with about 20%, behind the Left party on 24.5%. Merz described the Berlin result as "reasonable". These defeats followed another big loss to the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, making three defeats in two weeks. Merz said he will continue with his reform plans. Eight CDU regional leaders have publicly supported him.