Friedrich Merz vows to stay as German chancellor after regional election defeat in Mecklenburg

Regional election results in Mecklenburg and Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered an address at the CDU headquarters in Berlin on Sunday evening following the conclusion of voting in regional elections. Speaking at the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus shortly after the publication of initial exit polls, Merz acknowledged a severe defeat in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. He told party members that the outcome could not be glossed over and described it plainly as a disaster. Merz explained that the regional CDU had campaigned actively but became ground down in the intensified political confrontation between the SPD and the AfD. He contrasted the northeastern state with Berlin, where he thanked lead candidate Stefan Evers for securing a respectable result. Merz noted that Evers had navigated a difficult electoral environment in the capital without receiving any tailwind from the federal coalition in Berlin.

We cannot gloss over the result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it is a disaster.

Rejection of resignation and commitment to reforms

Despite the regional setback, Merz rejected calls to step down from the federal chancellery or the leadership of the Christian Democratic Union. Officials close to the Chancellor confirmed early on Sunday evening that a resignation was ruled out, while Merz convened the CDU presidium at party headquarters to review the results. Merz stated that the black-red federal government will continue implementing its planned package of structural reforms. He insisted that steering the country through necessary adjustments requires political backbone, patience, and steadfastness. Merz announced that he takes full responsibility for driving the national agenda forward, describing the policy measures as an essential safeguard against authoritarian influence.

The reforms must come.

Economic transformation and political polarization

Addressing the broader political environment, Merz warned that Germany is confronting profound economic transformation while public discourse has grown increasingly confrontational. He observed that radical political parties on both the left and right are actively eroding public trust in democratic governance. According to Merz, the answer to these pressures cannot be nostalgia or an attempt to return to past eras. He stated that Germany must rebuild confidence in its own capabilities and modernize its institutions for the future. Merz maintained that the federal administration must restore the promise of social advancement and economic prosperity, placing particular emphasis on creating opportunities for younger generations.

I want our country to once again become a land of new beginnings, so that the promise of advancement and prosperity applies also and especially to young people.

Internal party scrutiny and state premier support

The regional vote took place amid heightened scrutiny of Merz's leadership following earlier electoral difficulties in eastern Germany. Internal criticism within the CDU had intensified after the party suffered heavy losses in the Saxony-Anhalt state election two weeks earlier. Prior to Sunday's voting, government and party circles had indicated that Merz would use his public appearance to deliver a forward-looking policy message rather than retreat. The Chancellor had also received crucial backing four days before the election, when all eight CDU state premiers released a joint declaration endorsing his leadership. Merz reiterated that he intends to demonstrate the resolve required to lead both the CDU and the federal government through upcoming legislative challenges.