German Chancellor Friedrich Merz clings on after election 'disaster'

Friedrich Merz says he was "grateful" that Germany's coalition in intact with Social Democrats agreeing to stick with his conservatives. ( Reuters: Annegret Hilse )

Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he is determined to stay on as German leader, despite a local election defeat he described as "a disaster" for his party.

In the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party fell short of a 5 per cent threshold to enter parliament.

Mr Merz appears to be safe for now, after announcing on Monday that the centre-left Social Democrats wanted to remain in a coalition with his conservatives.

Link copied Share Share article Chancellor Friedrich Merz is clinging onto power after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party tumbled to its worst regional election defeat in post-war Germany, with members of his coalition clashing over his unpopular reform agenda.