# Merz vows to stay on after German election disaster

> Chancellor Friedrich Merz refuses to step down despite his party's worst-ever results in two state elections.
- Title: Merz vows to stay on after German election disaster · BBC News
- Summary: Chancellor Friedrich Merz refuses to step down despite his party's worst-ever results in two state elections. Merz is doubling down on his reform agenda…
- Keywords: friedrich merz, cdu, germany, chancellor, election results, mecklenburg-vorpommern, berlin, afd, political crisis, coalition government, news, world
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvwyz29n0nn2o
- Published: 2026-09-20T16:50:21.517+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: friedrich merz, cdu, germany, chancellor, election results, mecklenburg-vorpommern, berlin, afd, political crisis, coalition government, news, world
## Merz calls results a disaster
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union fell short of the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, posting its worst-ever result in the state.
## AfD surges while others block it
The far-right Alternative for Germany won the most votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38%, but other parties refuse to form a coalition with it, preventing it from governing.
## Berlin swings left against Merz
In Berlin, the ruling CDU was beaten by Die Linke (The Left), which topped polls in the capital for the first time ever with nearly 26% of the vote.
## Merz refuses to step down
Despite months of poor approval ratings and rumours of a mid-term chancellor swap, Merz declared he would stay on and push through economic, tax and welfare reforms.

> The reforms have to come. I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward.
## AfD leader predicts his exit
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel told the BBC that Merz would leave office soon, claiming the AfD has become the mainstream force in German politics.

> Pretty soon, he's going to leave.
## Supporters back Merz's continuity
CDU officials argue Merz needs time to implement reforms and that replacing him would waste time forming a new government. Eight German state leaders backed him earlier this week.

> He has got four years and we have to give him the four years.
## Rightward shift backfires
Merz's move to the right on immigration has failed to win over AfD voters while alienating left-leaning supporters, leaving him squeezed from both sides.
## Key takeaway

Merz is doubling down on his reform agenda despite mounting pressure and speculation about a mid-term replacement.