Merz Vows to Stay On After CDU's Historic State Election Losses to Far-Right AfD

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered significant losses in state elections held Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party making substantial gains. Merz publicly described the results as a "disaster" for his party. This marked the second regional election in two weeks in which the AfD made notable gains, according to multiple reports. Merz addressed the results in a televised statement shortly after exit polls were released, acknowledging the poor showing for the CDU while stating he intends to remain in office and continue pursuing his government's reform agenda. Multiple outlets characterized the CDU's result as its worst in postwar German history, though the reports did not provide specific vote percentages or seat totals for either state. The AfD's gains in both states were confirmed as a central and consistent element of coverage across sources. As of these reports, Merz remains chancellor and has not indicated any plans to resign or alter his governing approach despite the electoral setback. Some coverage raised questions about internal unrest within the CDU and speculated about pressure on Merz's leadership, though the extent and nature of that internal dissent was not independently detailed with specific facts, names, or statements from CDU officials. Precise vote totals, seat allocations, and the identities of any CDU figures challenging Merz's leadership remain unreported in the available accounts.