German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to stay on even though exit polls in two local elections indicated damaging defeats for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. The party was projected to only just scrape into parliament in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the AfD was on track to win the most votes. Merz called the exit poll result “a disaster” for his party.&nbsp;Even in Berlin, the ruling CDU was expected to be defeated by Die Linke (The Left).&nbsp;Merz is under increasing pressure amid poor approval ratings and rumours swirling that he could even be replaced mid-term in a so-called chancellor swap.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-deciding-mode-on-iran-says-very-big-things-going-to-happen-soon-1789921963152">Trump in ‘deciding mode’ on Iran, says ‘very big things’ going to happen soon</a>&nbsp;Voting took place on Sunday, a fortnight after the CDU saw its vote halved as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a major victory in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.Merz told reporters on Sunday that he would forge ahead with his coalition government’s plans to push through a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms.&nbsp;“The reforms have to come. I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward,” he insisted.“I would even go so far as to say that these reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian poison that, with the fascination of authoritarianism, is penetrating ever deeper into our society,” Merz added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-to-ban-burqa-and-hijab-in-schools-limit-foreign-students-per-class-pm-giorgia-meloni-1789914231910">Italy to ban burqa and hijab in schools, limit foreign students per class: PM Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;According to public broadcaster ZDF, the AfD was projected to take 38% of the vote share in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was followed in second place by the centre-left SPD, on 36%.&nbsp;However, the AfD is unlikely to govern in the state as other parties refuse to work with it.&nbsp;For Berlin, the broadcaster put the CDU on 20% of the vote share when polls closed, behind Die Linke on nearly 26%.There had been severe speculation in Germany that Merz could be replaced unless his party’s sagging political fortunes uplifted. Merz has only held the post for 16 months.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the exit poll result “a disaster” for his party but said that he would forge ahead with his coalition government’s plans to push through a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms. 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to stay on even though exit polls in two local elections indicated damaging defeats for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. The party was projected to only just scrape into parliament in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the AfD was on track to win the most votes. Merz called the exit poll result “a disaster” for his party. Even in Berlin, the ruling CDU was expected to be defeated by Die Linke (The Left). Merz is under increasing pressure amid poor approval ratings and rumours swirling that he could even be replaced mid-term in a so-called chancellor swap. Also Read: Trump in ‘deciding mode’ on Iran, says ‘very big things’ going to happen soon Voting took place on Sunday, a fortnight after the CDU saw its vote halved as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a major victory in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Merz told reporters on Sunday that he would forge ahead with his coalition government’s plans to push through a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms. “The reforms have to come. I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward,” he insisted. “I would even go so far as to say that these reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian poison that, with the fascination of authoritarianism, is penetrating ever deeper into our society,” Merz added. Also Read: Italy to ban burqa and hijab in schools, limit foreign students per class: PM Giorgia Meloni According to public broadcaster ZDF, the AfD was projected to take 38% of the vote share in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was followed in second place by the centre-left SPD, on 36%. However, the AfD is unlikely to govern in the state as other parties refuse to work with it. For Berlin, the broadcaster put the CDU on 20% of the vote share when polls closed, behind Die Linke on nearly 26%. There had been severe speculation in Germany that Merz could be replaced unless his party’s sagging political fortunes uplifted. Merz has only held the post for 16 months.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the exit poll result “a disaster” for his party but said that he would forge ahead with his coalition government’s plans to push through a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms.&nbsp;

Chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to stay on as exit polls signal major poll setback

Germany's far-right opposition AfD party on Friday (September 11) filed a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his accusation that the party is responsible for "ethnic cleansing," according to German media reports. Stephan Brandner, parliamentary secretary of the AfD's Bundestag group, called Merz's statement "criminal in nature" and "completely unacceptable." However, he added that his party remains "firmly on the ground of the constitution." The development unfolded after Merz on Wednesday (September 9), accused the party of promoting ethnic cleansing during a heated parliamentary exchange, drawing loud protest from the opposition party's ranks. "The word 'remigration' is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing," Merz said of the AfD's flagship slogan. "Remigration is nothing other than ethnic cleansing by skin colour and origin." The AfD maintains that "remigration" simply means deporting foreign criminals and those who entered Germany illegally. However, some far-right figures have also utilised the term to refer to deporting migrants and even German citizens of foreign origin.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brics-summit-2026-egypt-s-delegation-stay-in-saket-hotel-complicates-delhi-police-plans-check-roads-diversions-and-traffic-restrictions-1789119655269">BRICS Summit 2026: Egypt delegation's stay in Saket hotel complicates Delhi Police plans. Check roads, diversions and traffic restrictions</a><h3>AfD lawmaker calls Merz's remarks ‘nonsense’</h3>Brander, the AfD lawmaker, dismissed Merz's remarks as "nonsense," saying it was "unacceptable for the head of the executive of our country to come up with such lies and slander." Like many countries, Germany grants parliamentarians immunity for statements made within the chamber. That said, the law does carve out an exception for "defamatory insults." Beyond parliament, Germany's free speech laws have sparked considerable debate in recent years, with critics, including some within the AfD itself, arguing that the strict rules limit free expression. In the recent past, multiple cases were reported in Germany where people were criminally investigated for insulting, mocking or harshly criticising political figures. In one of those cases, a court fined a man earlier this year for calling Merz in an online comment a "Lackaffe", which means a snobbish dandy. However, others have been investigated for calling him "Pinocchio" and "Lying Fritz".

The development unfolded after Merz on Wednesday (September 9) accused the party of promoting ethnic cleansing during a heated parliamentary exchange, drawing loud protest from the opposition party's ranks.

Germany's far-right opposition AfD party on Friday (September 11) filed a criminal complaint against Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his accusation that the party is responsible for "ethnic cleansing," according to German media reports. Stephan Brandner, parliamentary secretary of the AfD's Bundestag group, called Merz's statement "criminal in nature" and "completely unacceptable." However, he added that his party remains "firmly on the ground of the constitution." The development unfolded after Merz on Wednesday (September 9), accused the party of promoting ethnic cleansing during a heated parliamentary exchange, drawing loud protest from the opposition party's ranks. "The word 'remigration' is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing," Merz said of the AfD's flagship slogan. "Remigration is nothing other than ethnic cleansing by skin colour and origin." The AfD maintains that "remigration" simply means deporting foreign criminals and those who entered Germany illegally. However, some far-right figures have also utilised the term to refer to deporting migrants and even German citizens of foreign origin. Also read: BRICS Summit 2026: Egypt delegation's stay in Saket hotel complicates Delhi Police plans. Check roads, diversions and traffic restrictions AfD lawmaker calls Merz's remarks ‘nonsense’ Brander, the AfD lawmaker, dismissed Merz's remarks as "nonsense," saying it was "unacceptable for the head of the executive of our country to come up with such lies and slander." Like many countries, Germany grants parliamentarians immunity for statements made within the chamber. That said, the law does carve out an exception for "defamatory insults." Beyond parliament, Germany's free speech laws have sparked considerable debate in recent years, with critics, including some within the AfD itself, arguing that the strict rules limit free expression. In the recent past, multiple cases were reported in Germany where people were criminally investigated for insulting, mocking or harshly criticising political figures. In one of those cases, a court fined a man earlier this year for calling Merz in an online comment a "Lackaffe", which means a snobbish dandy. However, others have been investigated for calling him "Pinocchio" and "Lying Fritz".

The development unfolded after Merz on Wednesday (September 9) accused the party of promoting ethnic cleansing during a heated parliamentary exchange, drawing loud protest from the opposition party's ranks.

AfD party files criminal complaint against German chancellor Merz over 'ethnic cleansing' remark

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Chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to stay on as exit polls signal major poll setback

AfD party files criminal complaint against Merz over 'ethnic cleansing' remark