Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows

Key Points:

• Friedrich Merz described the CDU's performance in recent state elections as a "disaster," with the party suffering its worst-ever result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, failing to enter the regional parliament for the first time postwar with just 4.9% of the vote.
• The far-right AfD topped the polls in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 38%, marking their third time leading in a German state, though they are unlikely to take power due to a coalition "firewall" against them.
• In Berlin, the CDU is expected to lose control of city hall after a defeat to the left-wing Linke party, which is advocating for expropriation of corporate landlords amid a housing crisis.
• Merz’s leadership is under intense pressure following consecutive electoral losses, poor approval ratings, and rising far-right momentum, with speculation about a possible leadership change growing despite his vow to remain chancellor.
• The CDU leadership showed internal dissent over Merz’s decision to press ahead with his economic recovery program, and Merz canceled a planned UN trip to focus on managing the fallout from the elections.