German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected speculation that he could leave office early following his party's heavy defeat in the elections in Saxony-Anhalt and weak results in opinion polls.
Speaking at a business congress in Berlin on Tuesday, Merz said he had been elected for a four-year term and wanted to use that period to lead the country out of a difficult time.
I want to use these four years to lead the country out of a difficult period.
Merz said he would work to ensure the coalition between the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union and the Social Democratic Party succeeded, adding that he would do everything he could to keep the government in office.
Merz also defended the coalition government's record, arguing that it had launched more reforms in 16 months than the country had achieved in previous years.
Alternative for Germany leads in poll
Merz's remarks came after the conservatives' severe electoral defeat in Saxony-Anhalt. In an Forsa poll published on Monday, the Alternative for Germany reached 30 percent support, putting it 10 points ahead of the alliance formed by the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union.
The Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union together fell to 20 percent in the poll, their lowest level in Forsa surveys for the conservatives. Support for the Social Democratic Party stood at 11 percent.
The figures showed that Merz's coalition would not reach a parliamentary majority if an election were held this week. In the federal election on February 23, 2025, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union won 28.5 percent of the vote, while the Alternative for Germany received 20.8 percent.
Regional elections to pose new test for Merz
Regional elections to be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin on Sunday are being viewed as a new test for Merz's political future. The Alternative for Germany won 43.8 percent in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, while the Christian Democratic Union was left with 17.2 percent in the same state, its lowest result in history.
Christian Democrats have been discussing for weeks who could replace Merz. Hendrik Wüst, the minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, is being mentioned among the potential successors.
A leadership contest among the Christian Democrats after the regional elections would not by itself dissolve the Bundestag or require an early federal election. If internal party pressure leads Merz to leave office, parliament can elect a new chancellor without a nationwide election being held.
