German elections under way which could decide fate of Chancellor Merz
Local elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are testing the political stability of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. His CDU party faces potential losses amid the rising popularity of the far-right AfD party, fueling speculation about a potential mid-term leadership change.
Why it matters
The outcome of these elections could significantly impact German national policy and the future of the current governing coalition.
Image source, Getty Images By Jessica Parker Berlin correspondent Published 17 minutes ago Local elections are taking place in two German states on Sunday which could increase the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Opinion polls in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommerm suggest Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is at risk of damaging defeats, which would raise further questions about the chancellor's future.
These latest elections come after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a major victory in the state of Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, while the CDU saw its vote halved.
There has been speculation in Germany that Merz could be replaced as chancellor mid-term unless the CDU's political fortunes improve.
He has said he will carry on but is facing poor approval ratings amid rumours of a so-called chancellor swap, though his challengers are "still hesitating", writes German news site Tagesschau , external .
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