Merz Calls Election Result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern a "Catastrophe"

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted on Sunday evening that his party, the CDU, had suffered a crushing defeat in the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. "There is no way to sugarcoat the result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — it's a catastrophe," Merz said after the first projections were released.

According to him, the answer to the current situation cannot be a return to the "good old days." "I want our country to once again become one that moves forward — one where the promise of growth and prosperity holds true for young people as well," the chancellor stressed.

Reforms Without Applause

Merz said that changing the situation requires change, and "change requires strength." Speaking about the reforms planned by his government, he acknowledged: "Not all of it will be met with applause." He noted that many citizens will feel the tangible effects of these reforms, and the results of some of them will only become visible over time.

"The reforms must go ahead," the chancellor said. "We are taking responsibility for them — I am taking that responsibility — because I want to move our country forward." With this, Merz signaled his intention to remain in office as chancellor despite mounting pressure.

Wrapping up his remarks, he added: "Germany is capable of reforming itself. These reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian poison that, along with a growing fascination with authoritarianism, is seeping ever deeper into our society."

Berlin and the AfD's Standing

Merz described the result in Berlin — where the CDU also reportedly lost ground, polling around 20%, behind the Left party (24.5–26%) — as "decent." The AfD is projected to come in third in the German capital with 13.5–16% of the vote. Final results were expected to be confirmed later in the evening.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz