Far-right and left surge in German elections

The AfD won in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern while Die Linke topped results in Berlin. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU suffered heavy losses.

Merz calls result a disaster

The Chancellor accepted a disaster for his party but vowed to stay in power and push ahead with his pro-growth agenda.

“disaster”

Merz's growth plan faces parliament

The CDU leader wants tax, healthcare and pension reforms, plus defense and infrastructure spending and deregulation for small businesses.

Economic stagnation fuels extremes

Years of wage stagnation, energy instability and manufacturing collapse have strengthened far-right and left-wing parties across the political spectrum.

Germany faces structural problems

High energy prices, over-regulation, exposure to China competition and demographic decline mean growth of around one percent is temporary, economists say.

No majority backs reform

Economists warn the elections show there is no popular support for Merz's growth-oriented reforms, pointing to further political deadlock ahead.

“no majority in favor of reforms”

Another German election likely in twenty twenty-seven

With the CDU in existential crisis, ING's Carsten Brzeski said he would not be surprised if Germany holds another election during the super election year of twenty twenty-seven.

“This really looks like a deadlock.”