Merz faces uphill battle as CDU loses ground to AfD in eastern Germany
TL;DR
Chancellor Friedrich Merz blames widespread discontent and 'destructive' populist forces for CDU's regional defeats, including AfD's win in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and losses in Berlin, and pledges party reform as it confronts long-term questions and reforms such as raising the retirement age to 67.
- Germany’s Merz hits out at ‘destructive’ forces as he fights for survival Financial Times
- Far-right AfD wins again as Germany's Merz slides Axios
- Friedrich Merz's political crisis threatens Germany's obsession with stability BBC
- German Chancellor Merz fights to survive historic defeat in regional elections NBC News
- After more German election gains, It’s getting harder to keep far-right AfD from power The Times of Israel
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