Merz Faces Pressure After State Election Losses

In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition is under strain after state election losses in September 2026. Merz has pledged to keep the government stable, but reports say he is losing support within his own CDU/CSU ranks, and political scientist Jurka has predicted he will not remain chancellor by Christmas.

The far-right AfD has reached a new record in the Insa poll, leading the CDU/CSU by its largest margin yet. The CDU's youth wing has warned against "flying blind," while the AfD has outlined three scenarios for working with the Union. A minority government would require AfD support, and the party's demands are being discussed.