From BBC News · · 1m 30s
Eight state leaders back Merz as chancellor faces pressure
German state premiers rally behind Friedrich Merz after far-right AfD surge raises questions about his leadership.
In brief
German state premiers rally behind Friedrich Merz after far-right AfD surge raises questions about his leadership. Despite poor approval ratings and AfD gains, CDU state leaders are backing Merz to stay as chancellor, emphasizing stability over personnel changes. Originally reported by BBC News.
Eight state leaders back Merz
Leaders of eight German states wrote that restoring trust in the CDU means taking action, not debating personnel changes.
Just 14% approve of Merz
The chancellor has held office for only 16 months but faces poor approval ratings as the far-right AfD surges in polls.
AfD wins historic Saxony-Anhalt vote
The AfD shot up to 43.8% while the CDU plummeted to 17.2%, the first time since World War Two a far-right party came close to controlling a German state.
Merz calls AfD a destructive force
After the loss, Merz described the AfD's migration policy as "ethnic cleansing" of skilled workers. The party filed a defamation complaint.
Sunday elections test Merz's future
State elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania are seen as a key test, with the AfD poised for further gains and the CDU for losses.
Potential successors being discussed
No one has challenged Merz yet, but names like Markus Söder, Hendrik Wüst and Alexander Dobrindt are being touted as possible replacements.
Merz has struggled before
It took him three attempts to become CDU leader and he lost an initial vote to become chancellor despite having sufficient coalition votes.
The short version
Despite poor approval ratings and AfD gains, CDU state leaders are backing Merz to stay as chancellor, emphasizing stability over personnel changes.
