Eight German state premiers back Merz amid speculation over future

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Friedrich Merz is facing increasing questions over whether he should remain chancellor and continue as CDU leader

The leaders of eight German states have backed the nation's chancellor amid growing speculation about his political future.

The premiers - all of whom are part of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - wrote that restoring trust in their party lay in "listening ​and taking political action, not in debates ​over personnel".

Merz, who has only held the post for 16 months, is facing poor approval ratings while the anti-immigration, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is surging, prompting questions about whether he is an electoral liability.

He has vowed to carry on but two more state elections on Sunday have been seen as a key test of his leadership.