Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz clings on after German election ‘disaster’

German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader, Friedrich Merz arrives for a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party board meeting, after the state elections, in Berlin, Germany, on Sept 21.

Five takeaways from Germany’s regional elections

The AfD gained significantly in both states and became the strongest party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 21, 2026

A woman casts her ballot on the last day of voting on Sept 20 at a polling station in Podolsk, Moscow, Russia.

Far-left party wins Berlin election, pledging to nationalise housing

Left Party’s lead candidate Elif Eralp immediately promised to follow through with a pledge to nationalise private housing associations that account for a large share of the city’s housing stock.

Far-right AfD leads as Merz rues ‘disaster’ in worst state election result in post-war Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the media following the Berlin state elections on Sept 20, in Berlin, Germany.

Germany’s Merz says US friendship since war ‘probably over’ for now

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has a track record of provoking the Trump administration with his rhetoric.

German leader Friedrich Merz ‘shocked’ by polls loss to far-right AfD, vows to push on with reforms

German Chancellor and CDU chairman Friedrich Merz (left) and Saxony-Anhalt’s defeated State Premier Sven Schulze at a news conference in Berlin on Sept 7, the day after far-right AfD won the vote by a wide margin.

Germany’s far-right AfD wins key Saxony-Anhalt election by landslide

People reacting to exit polls during the far-right Alternative for Germany election party following Saxony-Anhalt state election, in Magdeburg, Germany.

Russia-linked group blamed for fake Merz resignation video

The video - using the branding of German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle and business daily Handelsblatt - falsely claimed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was set to resign.

Territory ‘used without our knowledge’: Azerbaijan president confirms Germany-Russia talks in Baku

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (left) gesturing next to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a July 21 press conference in Berlin. Aliyev confirmed clandestine meetings took place in his country between Russian and German officials.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.